do well by doing good
verbEtymology The origin is unknown; in use since the mid-20th century. Although the phrase is sometimes attributed to Benjamin Franklin, the earliest documented usage is from Tom Lehrer's 1953 novelty song "The Old Dope Peddler."
1
Idiomatic To achieve social acceptance or financial success as a result of behaving in a benevolent or charitable manner.
- Ev'ry evening you will find him / Around our neighborhood / It's the old dope peddler / Doing well by doing good1954, Tom Lehrer, “The Old Dope Peddler”, in Songs by Tom Lehrer (LP record), Lehrer Records, Track 2:
- The sanctioning doctrine of Good Works has been at hand every since Benjamin Franklin canonized the Arminian Heresy. So Cash McCall, like his patron saint, does well by doing good.1960, Albert D. Van Nostrand, The Denatured Novel, volume 3, Bobbs-Merrill, page 170:
2 more examples
- Of course, like most aid donors, Japan does well by doing good.1988, John Greenwald at al., "Japan From Superrich To Superpower," Time, 4 July
- He wants companies selling Red products to make a profit by helping the poor—doing well by doing good.2006 January 27, Matthew Bishop, “View from Davos: Bono marketing his red badge of virtue”, in telegraph.co.uk, retrieved 21 Jan 2010: