golden rule

[ gohl-duhn rool ]

noun

1. a rule of ethical conduct, usually phrased “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” paraphrased from the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament.
2. any philosophy, guiding principle, or ideal of behavior, as in a discipline, pursuit, or business:

   The protesters agreed that their golden rule would be “no violence.”

golden rule

noun

1. any of a number of rules of fair conduct, such as Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them (Matthew 7:12) or thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Leviticus 19:28)
2. any important principle

   a golden rule of sailing is to wear a life jacket

3. the principle advocated by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown (in office 1997–2007) that a government should only borrow to invest
4. another name for rule of three

Word History and Origins

Origin of golden rule¹

First recorded in 1550–60

Idioms and Phrases

see under do unto others .

Example Sentences

They appear to be following the Inverted Golden Rule: Do unto others what you expect them to do to you.

From Salon

Based on the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” the petition asks fellow Quakers to give up their slaves.

From Literature

According to a couple of readers named Paul and Joyce, it comes down to the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

From Seattle Times

But the author is misled in her application of the Golden Rule when she suggests that it does not apply in cases of quality-of-life decisions.

From Scientific American

“I’m reminded of the Golden Rule, which is that we love our neighbor as our self.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• assumption
• basis
• convention
• doctrine
• ethic
• foundation
• fundamental
• precept
• proposition
• regulation
• rule
• truth