As quoted in How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (1944; 1948) by Dale Carnegie; though Roosevelt has sometimes been credited with the originating the expression, "Damned if you do and damned if you don't" is set in quote marks, indicating she herself was quoting a common expression in saying this. Actually, this saying was coined in 1836 by evangelist Lorenzo Dow.
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Do what you feel in your heart to be right — for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be "damned if you do, and damned if you don't."
— Eleanor Roosevelt
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Do what you feel in your heart to be right — for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be "damned if you do, and damned if you don't."" in the context of "As quoted in How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (1944; 1948) by Dale Carnegie; though Roosevelt has sometimes been credited with the originating the expression, "Damned if you do and damned if you don't" is set in quote marks, indicating she herself was quoting a common expression in saying this. Actually, this saying was coined in 1836 by evangelist Lorenzo Dow." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Eleanor Roosevelt" (Quotes)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (11 October 1884 – 7 November 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, social activist. and first lady (as the wife of US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt).
About Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (11 October 1884 – 7 November 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, social activist. and first lady (as the wife of US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt).
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