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The term "Golden Rule" was first widely used in the early 17th century. It became popular through Anglican theologians and preachers such as Charles Gibbon and Thomas Jackson, who used the phrase to emphasize the importance and inestimable value of the principle of reciprocity—treating others as you would want to be treated. The rule, derived from various religious and philosophical traditions, came to be known as "golden" due to its association with something precious and universally applicable. Although the principle itself is ancient and found in texts like the Bible, Confucian teachings, and ancient Egyptian proverbs, the phrase "Golden Rule" was cemented in English moral discourse during this period, particularly because of its importance in religious and ethical education. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." |
African Traditional Religions (Yoruba): "One who is going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts."
Agnosticism: "Do nothing to others that you would not want done to yourself." – W.K. Clifford (Ethics of Belief)
Ancient Egyptian: "That which you hate to be done to you, do not do to another." – The Story of the Eloquent Peasant
Baha'i Faith: "Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you." – Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings
Baha'i Faith: "And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself." – Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Buddhism: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." – Udana-Varga 5.18
Buddhism (Tibetan): "If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path."
Christianity: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." – Matthew 7:12 (Bible)
Confucianism: "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself." – Analects 15:24
Druze: "Want for others what you want for yourself." – Epistle of Wisdom
Epicureanism: "It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely, honorably, and justly." – Epicurus
Falun Gong: "Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself." – Zhuan Falun
Hellenism: "Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing." – Thales of Miletus
Hinduism: "This is the sum of duty: Do nothing to others which if done to you would cause you pain." – Mahabharata 5:1517
Humanism: "Don’t do things you wouldn’t want to have done to you." – Humanist Manifesto III
Islam: "None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." – Hadith (Sahih Muslim)
Jainism: "One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated." – Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
Jehovah’s Witnesses: "Do to others as you would have them do to you." – Luke 6:31 (New World Translation)
Judaism: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor." – Talmud, Shabbat 31a
Mormonism: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." – Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 14:12
Native American (Cherokee): "Do not wrong or hate your neighbor; for it is not he that you wrong but yourself."
Native American (Blackfoot): "Each person is like a brother or sister to you, for we are all related."
Platonism: "May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me." – Plato, Laws
Raelism: "Treat others as you would like to be treated." – Raelian Messages
Rastafarianism: "The good you do to others is what you do to yourself." – Teachings of Haile Selassie I
Roman Paganism: "The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love the members of society as themselves." – Cicero
Santería: "What you give to others, you will get back in return." – Odu Ifá
Scientology: "Try to treat others as you would want to be treated." – The Way to Happiness
Secular Humanism: "Do not treat others in ways you would find unacceptable." – Secular Ethics
Shinto: "The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form."
Sikhism: "As you deem yourself, so deem others." – Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 480
Stoicism: "What you do not wish to be done to you, do not do to anyone else." – Epictetus, Discourses
Sufism: "The basis of all good manners is that you should do to others as you would wish them to do to you."
Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." – T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien
Taoism: "Be kind to others, and it will benefit you; treat others harshly, and you shall suffer."
Unitarianism: "We affirm and promote respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person." – Unitarian Principles
Wicca: "An it harm none, do what ye will." – Wiccan Rede
Zoroastrianism: "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself." – Dadistan-i-Dinik 94:5
Zoroastrianism (Pahlavi Texts): "Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself."
Agnosticism: "Do nothing to others that you would not want done to yourself." – W.K. Clifford (Ethics of Belief)
Ancient Egyptian: "That which you hate to be done to you, do not do to another." – The Story of the Eloquent Peasant
Baha'i Faith: "Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you." – Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings
Baha'i Faith: "And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself." – Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Buddhism: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." – Udana-Varga 5.18
Buddhism (Tibetan): "If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path."
Christianity: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." – Matthew 7:12 (Bible)
Confucianism: "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself." – Analects 15:24
Druze: "Want for others what you want for yourself." – Epistle of Wisdom
Epicureanism: "It is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely, honorably, and justly." – Epicurus
Falun Gong: "Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself." – Zhuan Falun
Hellenism: "Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing." – Thales of Miletus
Hinduism: "This is the sum of duty: Do nothing to others which if done to you would cause you pain." – Mahabharata 5:1517
Humanism: "Don’t do things you wouldn’t want to have done to you." – Humanist Manifesto III
Islam: "None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." – Hadith (Sahih Muslim)
Jainism: "One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated." – Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
Jehovah’s Witnesses: "Do to others as you would have them do to you." – Luke 6:31 (New World Translation)
Judaism: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor." – Talmud, Shabbat 31a
Mormonism: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." – Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 14:12
Native American (Cherokee): "Do not wrong or hate your neighbor; for it is not he that you wrong but yourself."
Native American (Blackfoot): "Each person is like a brother or sister to you, for we are all related."
Platonism: "May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me." – Plato, Laws
Raelism: "Treat others as you would like to be treated." – Raelian Messages
Rastafarianism: "The good you do to others is what you do to yourself." – Teachings of Haile Selassie I
Roman Paganism: "The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love the members of society as themselves." – Cicero
Santería: "What you give to others, you will get back in return." – Odu Ifá
Scientology: "Try to treat others as you would want to be treated." – The Way to Happiness
Secular Humanism: "Do not treat others in ways you would find unacceptable." – Secular Ethics
Shinto: "The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form."
Sikhism: "As you deem yourself, so deem others." – Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 480
Stoicism: "What you do not wish to be done to you, do not do to anyone else." – Epictetus, Discourses
Sufism: "The basis of all good manners is that you should do to others as you would wish them to do to you."
Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." – T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien
Taoism: "Be kind to others, and it will benefit you; treat others harshly, and you shall suffer."
Unitarianism: "We affirm and promote respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person." – Unitarian Principles
Wicca: "An it harm none, do what ye will." – Wiccan Rede
Zoroastrianism: "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself." – Dadistan-i-Dinik 94:5
Zoroastrianism (Pahlavi Texts): "Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself."