golden rule


noun

a rule of ethical conduct, usually phrased “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” or, as in the Sermon on the Mount, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so unto them.” Matt. 7:12; Luke 6:31.
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.”

Origin of golden rule

First recorded in 1800–10

Example sentences from the Web for golden rule

  • In Paris her golden-rule philosophy had been turned topsy-turvy.

    The Gay Cockade |Temple Bailey
  • Of course, the word "rule" is often used to designate a principle—as in the case of the phrase "golden-rule."

    Ethics |John Dewey and James Hayden Tufts

British Dictionary definitions for golden rule

golden rule

noun

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)
any important principle a golden rule of sailing is to wear a life jacket
British the principle advocated by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown (in office 1997–2007) that a government should only borrow to invest
another name for rule of three

Idioms and Phrases with golden rule

golden rule

see under do unto others.