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

So I think the bottom line is, I try to live my life by the golden rule, that’s what I’ve always been taught.

From Los Angeles Times

"I have this golden rule of ghost-hunting - if you have to touch something to allow the spirit to move it then it's you that's moving it."

From BBC

Development in grey belt areas will be subject to new "golden rules", including on the proportion of new homes that are classified as affordable.

From BBC

For much of its existence, the cryptocurrency company nChain was governed by a golden rule of office politics: It was not a good idea to challenge Craig Steven Wright, the chief science officer.

From New York Times

“Probably the most important thing to remember is the golden rule of foraging: never eat anything from the wild without knowing with 100% certainty what it is,” says Cook.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

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