two wrongs don't make a right

proverb/tuː rɒŋz dəʊnt meɪk ə raɪt/ 🔊 listen

Two wrongs don't make a right is an English proverb meaning that responding to a bad action with another bad action doesn't fix anything. You can't justify your own wrongdoing by pointing to someone else's.

📖 Meanings

1answering a wrong with another wrong doesn't make it right
"He insulted you, but two wrongs don't make a right." — He insulted you, but responding in kind won't make it right.
2you can't justify wrongdoing by another's wrongdoing
"Don't cheat just because they did; two wrongs don't make a right." — Don't cheat just because they did; that doesn't make it okay.

🔄 Related proverbs

turn the other cheek →be the bigger person →an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind →

💬 Common patterns

two wrongs don't make a rightremember, two wrongs don't make a rightbut two wrongs don't make a right
❓ Which proverb says answering a wrong with another wrong fixes nothing?