Golden Rule (“Do unto others before they do unto you”)
Entry in progress—B.P.
“he who has the gold makes the rules”
Wikipedia: Ethic of reciprocity
The ethic of reciprocity, also known as the Golden Rule, is an ethical code that states one has a right to just treatment, and a responsibility to ensure justice for others. Reciprocity is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights, though it has its critics. A key element of the golden rule is that a person attempting to live by this rule treats all people, not just members of his or her in-group, with consideration.
It exists in both positive (generally structured in the form of “do to others what you would like to be done to you”) and negative form (structured in the form of “do not do to others what you would not like to be done to you”). While similar those forms are not strictly the same as they differ in what to do with what you would like to be done to you but the other party would not like to be done upon it. Negative form does directly not contain that while positive form can exclude it indirectly with that you would like from others to check if you really like it, what is an example of using the golden rule in a context which makes it self-correcting, as argued in the criticisms section.
The golden rule has its roots in a wide range of world cultures, and is a standard which different cultures use to resolve conflicts; it was present in the philosophies of ancient India, Greece, and China. Principal philosophers and religious figures have stated it in different ways, but its most common English phrasing is attributed to Jesus of Nazareth in the Biblical book of Luke: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The “Do unto others” wording first appeared in English in a Catholic Catechism around 1567, but certainly in the reprint of 1583.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Main Entry: golden rule
Function: noun
Date: 1753
1 capitalized G&R : a rule of ethical conduct referring to Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31: do to others as you would have them do to you
2: a guiding principle
(Oxford English Dictionary)
golden, a.
Of rules, precepts, etc.: Of inestimable utility; often spec. with reference to the precept, ‘whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them’ (Matt. vii. 12).
1674 R. GODFREY Inj. & Ab. Physic 54 Whilst forgetting that Golden Law do as you would be done by, they make self the center of their actions.
1741 WATTS Improv. Mind I. xiv. §8 Such is that golden principle of morality which our blessed Lord has given us.
1807 Med. Jrnl. XVII. 242 The best rule in this respect is..the golden rule of Dr. Jenner; not to take matter after the areola begins to spread.
1885 HOWELLS Silas Lapham II. xxv, In our dealings with each other we should be guided by the Golden Rule.
1887 RUSKIN Præterita II. 13 ‘When you have got too much to do, don’t do it’,a golden saying.
Daily Northwestern Friday, January 04, 1895 Oshkosh, Wisconsin
...version of tbeUolden Rule is” DO .OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO YOU.” There were…..DO this. What seems possible is that BEFORE tho tax Is collected the law -may..
Pg. 1, col. 7:
The way of the water works man is by no means always pleasant. The average manager of a water plant is generally put down by the public as a sort of green goods man or bunco steerer, or some other individual whose version of the Golden Rule is “Do others before they do you.”
Trenton Times Monday, January 01, 1900 Trenton, New Jersey
...you.” DO -not “raphrase this into “DO OTHERS BEFORE “icy DO but read it…..of our old copybooh-t school. “DO UNTO OTHERS ‘as you would they should DO..
Pg. 4?, col. 3:
“Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you.” Do not paraphrase this into “Do others before they do you,” but read it aright.
Daily Northwestern Wednesday, October 30, 1901 Oshkosh, Wisconsin
...Harum’s maxim in trading “DO UNTO OTHERS as they would DO UNTO you and DO…..may believe In and that Is ‘OTHERS BEFORE they DO you.” At any rate; it la..
Pg. 2, col. 2:
But there are a few who believe in David Harum’s maxim in trading horses: “Do unto others as they would do unto you—and do it fust.” There is also another phrase that some farmers may believe in and that is “Do others before they do you.”
Reno Evening Gazette Tuesday, April 09, 1907 Reno, Nevada
...to Unwritten Law, “The Oldest UNTO OTHERS as You Would UNTO You999 DECLARES…..shall go DOwn, where so. many OTHERS. BEFORE’‘me, ania disappear from the..
Bedford Gazette Friday, November 24, 1922 Bedford, Pennsylvania
...not to wait. ducts of her soil. DO UNTO OTHERS as you would that vereity If…..for’ towns to offer thus: “DO OTHERS BEFORE they “V uia is able to start its…
Pg. 5, col. 3:
We too often let the enemy, Selfishness, get into our hearts and try to revise the Golden Rule, making it read thus: “Do others before they do you.”
Indiana Weekly Messenger Thursday, December 14, 1922 Indiana, Pennsylvania
...DOwn the the street read like this DO UNTO OTHERS as you On Saturday night 1…..s, that nearly all the it DO OTHERS BEFORE they DO flju-iinsss men have..
Pg. 4, col. 2:
I remember in 1826 the golden rule read like this—Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Now it reads—Do others before they do you.
Monessen Daily Independent Monday, June 04, 1934 Monessen, Pennsylvania
...finished digesting the steak. DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE they unDO you. They tell…..these two minutes than was experienced BEFORE on a show ground. Tlie show will..
Hammond Times Thursday, October 22, 1942 Hammond, Indiana
...good. Russia it is definitely “DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE OTHERS DO UNTO Is revised…..the session. Dr. Stoddard’s talk, made BEFORE a full auditorium, was titled..
(PROQUEST HISTORICAL NEWSPAPERS)
GERMAN FLEET AT HONGKONG.; Japan’s Movements Excites the Distrust of the Foreign Office at Berlin. Policies May Be Changed. Golden Rule of Diplomacy.
Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1963). Chicago, Ill.: Aug 30, 1900. p. 4 (1 page):
_Golden Rule of Diplomacy._
These promises and programs reminded a cultured observer recently of the golden rule, “that is, the golden rule as formulated by David Harum, ‘do unto others as you think they would do unto you, and be sure you do it first.’ Russia did it first.”
STATE SNAPSHOTS.; YE SODA CLERK. NEVER TAKES A DAY OFF.
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles, Calif.: Aug 8, 1901. p. 9 (1 page):
The Keswick correspondent of the Reading Searchlight says that the motto: “Do others or they’ll do you,” is responsible for a great deal of misery and dishonesty. He should follow the Los Angeles doctrine—“Do others before they do you.”
Do Others or They’ll Do You?
V.H.J.. New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: Nov 25, 1906. p. 8 (1 page)
SCOUTS GOLDEN RULE.; Chief Shippy Tells Association That Present Theory Is “Do Others Before They Do You.”
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles, Calif.: Jun 4, 1908. p. I4 (1 page)
5 December 1927, New York (NY) Telegram, pg. 10, col. 4:
Who Says Golden
Rule is “Old
Stuff?”
By FLORENCE SMITH VINCENT
GREED is its creed, and America is a nation of Get-Rich Quick-Wallingfords by the “do-others-before-they-do-you” method.