do more harm than good
Worsen despite intentions
To do more harm than good is to make a situation worse despite intending to help.
The phrase acknowledges good intentions while judging outcomes: The antibiotics did more harm than good.
It often cautions against well-meaning interference: Government intervention would do more harm than good.
- trade-offsSacrifices for gains
- paternalismControlling others for their good
- unintended consequencesUnanticipated outcomes of actions
- law of unintended consequencesOutcomes differ from intentions
- moral hazardConsequence-free risk-taking incentive
good intentions · overreach · opportunity cost · risk assessment · negligence · externalities · impulsivity · iatrogenic · domino effect · slippery slope · confirmation bias · ethical dilemma · systemic risk · emotional reasoning · tunnel vision · utilitarianism · inefficiency · mismanagement
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