ENGLISH
REFERENCE

do unto others as you would have them do unto you

idiom
Meaning

Treat people fairly. Also known as "The Golden Rule"


Origin

The Golden Rule, from the Bible (Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31); parallel maxims exist in many ancient traditions.

Examples
SIMPLE

I always try to do unto others as I would have them do unto me.

CONTEXTUAL

When you are tempted to be rude to a waiter, remember to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

COMPLEX

The philosopher argued that a peaceful society is only possible if every citizen commits to the principle of doing unto others as they would have them do unto themselves.

Last updated June 7, 2026