# do unto others as you would have them do unto you

idiom · CEFR B2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/do-unto-others-as-you-would-have-them-do-unto-you
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- I always try to do unto others as I would have them do unto me.
- When you are tempted to be rude to a waiter, remember to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
- 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.

## Origin

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.