# golden rule

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/golden-rule
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A fundamental rule or principle.

## Examples

- Treating others with kindness is the golden rule.
- In this office, the golden rule is to always double-check your work before sending it to the client.
- Throughout his long career in diplomacy, he maintained that the golden rule of negotiation was to listen far more than one speaks.

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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.