A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

1589 LYLY Pap with Hatchet III. 407 Giue them their due though they were diuels.. and excuse them for taking anie money at interest. 1596 NASHE Saffron Walden III. 36 Giue the diuell his due. 1642 Prince Rupert’s Declaration 2 The Cavaliers (to give the Divell his due) fought very valiantly. 1751 SMOLLETT Peregrine Pickle I. xvii. You always used me in an officer-like manner, that I must own, to give the devil his due. 1936 H. AUSTIN Murder of Matriarch xxiii. To give the devil his due.. I don’t think that Irvin planned to incriminate anyone else. 1978 R. L. HILL Evil that Men Do vi. Giving the devil his due will always jostle the angels. "fair dealing

give see also it is BETTER to give than to receive; give CREDIT where credit is due; give a DOG a bad name and hang him; give a man ROPE enough and he will hang himself; never give a SUCKER an even break.
He GIVES twice who gives quickly
Cf. PUBLILIUS SYRUS Sententia ccxxxv. inopi beneficium bis dat, qui dat celeriter, he gives twice who gives quickly to the needy; mid 14th-cent. Fr. qui tost donne, deus fois donne. Also c 1385 CHAUCER Legend of Good Women Prologue 1. 451 For whoso yeveth a yifte, or dooth a grace. Do it by tyme [in good time], his thanks ys wel the more. The Latin bis dat qui cito dat is perhaps better known than the Publilius Syrus version, and was quoted in this form by Francis Bacon in a speech on 17 May 1617, upon taking his seat as Keeper of the Great Seal.

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  1553 T. WILSON Art of Rhetoric 65V He geueth twise, that geueth sone and chearefully. 1612 T. SHELTON tr. Cervantes’ Don Quixote I. iv. It is an old proverbe, that hee that gives quickly, gives twice. 1775 J. BOSWELL Life of Johnson I. 443 I did really ask the favour twice; but you have been even with me by granting it so speedily. Bis dat qui cito dat. 1980 Times 17 Oct. 13 ‘He gives twice who gives quickly.’..We have everything to gain by generous action at once. ■ charity; giving and receiving