Golden Rule

The phrase Golden rule is established in English as the name for a Biblical teaching often phrased as "do unto others as you would have others do unto you." In this form it qualifies as a "familiar misquotation." It is expressed twice in the Gospels as a teaching of Jesus:

Matthew 7:12, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."

Luke 6:31, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

By referring to "the law and the prophets," Jesus is saying that the principle is not original with him, but is his expression of a principle of Judaic law.

The principle is found throughout religious history as a guiding principle in the treatment of others.

• "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD." — Torah Leviticus 19:18

• "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." — Torah Leviticus 19:33-34

• "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." — Jesus (c. 5 BC—33 AD) in the Gospels, Matthew 7:12 , Luke {{{chap}}}:31 , Luke 10:27

• "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." — Muhammad (c. 571 – 632 BC) in a Hadith.

• "This is the sum of duty; do naught unto others what you would not have them do unto you." — Mahabharata (5:15:17) (c. 500 BC)

• "What you do not wish upon yourself, extend not to others." — Confucius (ca. 551–479 BC)

• "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man." — Hillel the Elder (ca. 50 BC-10 AD)

George Bernard Shaw, in a preface to his play Man and Superman, has a collection of witty "Maxims for Revolutionaries" which include

• Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.
• The golden rule is that there are no golden rules.