Golden Rule

The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one would want to be treated by them. It is sometimes called an ethics of reciprocity, meaning that one should reciprocate to others how one would like them to treat the person (not necessarily how they actually treat them). Various expressions of this rule can be found in the tenets of most religions and creeds through the ages. The maxim may appear as a positive or negative injunction governing conduct: Treat others as one would like others to treat them (positive or directive form) Do not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated (negative or prohibitive form) What one wishes upon others, they wish upon themselves (empathetic or responsive form) The negative form is sometimes called the Silver Rule in order to distinguish it from the positive form.