A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

There’s many a GOOD cock come out of a tattered bag
The proverb is derived from cockfighting. Similar in sentiment is: 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 7 An ill Cow may have a good Calf. Bad People may have good Children.

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  1883 C. S. BURNE Shropshire Folklore xxxvi. There’ll come a good cock out of a ragged bag. ..A cockfighting simile, lately used by a farmer, whose buildings were out of repair, but his stock in good condition. 1953 R. SUTCLIFF Simon xiv. ‘There’s many a good cock come out of a tattered bag,’ said the dark shape, slowly. There was an instant of .. silence, and then Simon said, ‘And a good tune played on an old fiddle.’ ■ appearance, deceptive
  

No GOOD deed goes unpunished
Sometimes attributed to Oscar Wilde, but not traced in his writings.

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  1938 J. AGATE Ego 3 25 Jan. 275 Pavia was in great form to-day: ‘Every good deed brings its own punishment.’ 1967 J. ORTON Diaries (1986) 13 June 209 Very good line George came out with at dinner: ‘No good deed ever goes unpunished.’ 2002 Washington Post 11 Jan. C3 Finally, the wages of purity, naivete and an excessive love of mankind catch up with her. As they say, no good deed goes unpunished, no unloved and unimportant humans can expect not to be squashed. "just deserts
  

The GOOD die young

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  1697 DEFOE Character of Dr. Annesley 3 The best of Men cannot suspend their Fate; The Good die early, and the Bad die late. 1814 WORDSWORTH Excursion I. 27 The good die first, And they whose hearts are dry as summer dust Burn to the socket. 1852 A. CARY Clovernook 39 Sarah. . was dead. . aged nineteen years. .. The old truth was again reasserted.. in the often repeated verse which followed, that the good die young. 1987 L. BARNES Trouble of Fools v. ‘Live hard, die young,’ I said. .. ‘You got it wrong, Carlotta,’ Mooney said. ‘I learned it in school. It’s “Only the good die young.” Before they get a chance to fool around.’ 2002 Washington Post 18 Jan. C1 It [Black Hawk Down] teaches stuff they don’t know, only the smallest and most bitter of lessons: that ammunition is more important than water, that cover is more important than concealment, and that the good die young. "death; youth