The Golden Rule

We often refer to the Golden Rule in discussions about humanism and religion, and we can all probably recite our own version of it. But have you wondered where it came from? Well here’s a potted history:  

“Do not do to others what you would not want them do to you.” (CONFUCIUS -  born 551 BC)

"I will act towards others exactly as I would act towards myself.“  (BUDDHISM - The Siglo-Vada Sutta, about 500 BC)

“We should conduct ourselves toward others as we would have them act toward us.”  (ARISTOTLE - 384 BC) 

"This is the sum of duty: Do nothing to others which, if done to you, could cause you pain."  (HINDUISM - from The Mahabharata, about 150 BC) 

"What you would avoid suffering yourself, seek not to impose on others." (ANCIENT GREECE - Epictetus, the Greek philosopher, about 90 AD) 

"Love your neighbour as yourself." (JUDAISM / CHRISTIANITY – Leviticus 19, in The Torah, about 400 BC, quoted by Jesus in Matthew 22 and Mark 12, 1st Century AD) 

"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.” (JUDAISM - from Hillel: The Talmud, about 50 BC) 

"None of you truly believes, until he wishes for his brothers what he wishes for himself." (ISLAM – Hadith a saying of The Prophet Muhammad, 7th Century) 

"As you think of yourself, so think of others." (SIKHISM - from Guru Granth Sahib, 1604) 

"Treat other people as you'd want to be treated in their situation; don't do things you wouldn't want to have done to you.” (British Humanist Association, 1999)

Thanks to Jeremy Rodell the BHA’s Dialogue Officer for compiling the above.