You don't get anything for nothing?

Answer 1

I agree, but it depends on what you consider 'nothing'.

Some people might say everything that isn't concrete can be seen as nothing.

But working hard isn't concrete while most people would say the money earned for a job wasn't just given for nothing.

Another way to look at the question: you get it for nothing when it has had or will have no consequences. Then I would indeed mean that you can never get anything for nothing. What you get will always affect your life.

A third explanation, for nothing: that you haven't done anything on purpose to get something. Then getting a present from friends can be seen as something for nothing.

But the way I think the question should be looked at, is that in the past, in whatever way, you have made or have helped make a reason for why you have received that something. Then, indeed, you can never get anything for nothing, because everything you get will have a reason why you get it, and because it is in your life, that reason will always be partly made by you.