# What is the "Golden Rule" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2013, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688 "2013-06-23T06:09:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/1 "2013-06-23T06:09:35Z")
What is your definition of the “Golden Rule”? IMO, anyone over the age of about 8 knows the real answer. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/2 "2013-06-23T06:15:13Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > What is your definition of the “Golden Rule”? IMO, anyone over the age of about 8 knows the real answer. Which, on this board, may mean that more people will choose the wrong one because they find it funny. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/3 "2013-06-23T07:56:07Z")
I just want to say that the first time I ever learned of the cynical version, in the 1970s, it was printed on the back of the record album _One Nation Under a Groove_ by Funkadelic. “Who has the gold makes the rules! Keep on digging!” So every time I encounter it now, I think of that. _One nation under a groove / Gettin down just for the funk of it / One nation, we’re on the move / No one can stop us now._ Then I get all nostalgic for '70s music… ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/4 "2013-06-23T09:49:18Z")
I learned about the “fake” golden rule from Aladdin, the Disney movie. Haven’t heard it since then or used anywhere outside it, honestly. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/5 "2013-06-23T10:23:14Z")
Don’t know if you were looking for a serious answer, but here it is. [Rabbi Hillel [born approx. 60 BCE] was one of the most influential scholars in Jewish history.](http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Quote/hillel.html) > [@](#): > > Once there was a gentile …who came before Hillel, and Hillel converted him, saying: That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow, this is the whole Torah, and the rest is commentary, go and learn it." ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/6 "2013-06-23T10:35:42Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > I just want to say that the first time I ever learned of the cynical version, in the 1970s, it was printed on the back of the record album _One Nation Under a Groove_ by Funkadelic. “Who has the gold makes the rules! Keep on digging!” So every time I encounter it now, I think of that. _One nation under a groove / Gettin down just for the funk of it / One nation, we’re on the move / No one can stop us now._ Then I get all nostalgic for '70s music… > [@drewtwo99](#): > > I learned about the “fake” golden rule from Aladdin, the Disney movie. Haven’t heard it since then or used anywhere outside it, honestly. Mr. T’s autobiography was called “The Man With the Gold.” He claimed that was his golden rule. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/7 "2013-06-23T11:32:58Z")
Do unto others before they do unto you. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/8 "2013-06-23T11:57:11Z")
I learned about the Golden Rule from [Johnny Hart](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=wizard+of+id+golden+rule&sa=X&biw=1422&bih=672&tbm=isch&tbnid=Qttdmaxd1fRn6M:&imgrefurl=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1206741.Remember_the_Golden_Rule_&docid=zKodJDQuvxlbuM&imgurl=http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1301001232l/1206741.jpg&w=250&h=414&ei=e-DGUbqDAced0QWR64CAAg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:4,s:0,i:94&iact=rc&page=1&tbnh=184&tbnw=111&start=0&ndsp=23&tx=61&ty=38) back when he was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/9 "2013-06-23T16:33:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Don’t know if you were looking for a serious answer, but here it is. > > [Rabbi Hillel [born approx. 60 BCE] was one of the most influential scholars in Jewish history.](http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Quote/hillel.html) Hillel was a great thinker but he didn’t invent this concept. It’s a common moral principle that can be found in pretty much all religions. Buddhism: “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” - Udana-Varga 5:18 Confucianism: “Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence.” - Mencius VII.A.4 Hinduism: “This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.” - Mahabharata 5:1517 Jainism: “A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.” - Sutrakritanga 1.11.33 Zoroastrianism: “Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others.” - Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29 ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/10 "2013-06-23T16:45:15Z")
Carl Sagan had a few thoughts on the subject. [I think this is the stuff.](http://www.freeonlineinformation.com/rulesofthegame.htm) It’s a good rule if people have the same idea about what’s good. You may not want a masochist doing unto you though. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/11 "2013-06-23T23:14:52Z")
Do you mean the Golden Rule as it ought to work? Or as it really works? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/12 "2013-06-23T23:40:40Z")
They’re both definitions of\* a\* Golden Rule. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/13 "2013-06-24T07:39:17Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Do you mean the Golden Rule as it ought to work? Or as it really works? I’m talking about the _real_ Golden Rule. (i.e. the rule according to anyone who has a _clue_ how the world works) ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/14 "2013-06-24T10:50:29Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Buddhism: “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” - Udana-Varga 5:18 > Hinduism: “This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.” - Mahabharata 5:1517 > Zoroastrianism: “Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others.” - Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29 This is in my opinion the real golden rule. The Christian abomination of it is despicable. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/15 "2013-06-24T10:54:46Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I’m talking about the _real_ Golden Rule. (i.e. the rule according to anyone who has a _clue_ how the world works) Then you should narrow your poll to include only those people. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/16 "2013-06-24T20:04:33Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Do unto others before they do unto you. Do unto others, then run! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/17 "2013-06-24T20:36:15Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Do unto others, then run! 😃 Because then you’ll be a mile away and you’ll have their shoes. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/18 "2013-06-25T05:18:02Z")
“It’s OK when it’s in a three-way It’s not gay when it’s in a three-way With a honey in the middle there’s some leeway The area’s grey in a one, two, three-way” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/19 "2013-06-25T06:41:24Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > “It’s OK when it’s in a three-way > It’s not gay when it’s in a three-way > With a honey in the middle there’s some leeway > The area’s grey in a one, two, three-way” As long as you don’t cross swords. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688/20 "2013-06-25T09:25:02Z")
I was under the impression the rule is: > [@](#): > > Do unto 1.6180339887 of your fellow men as you would have done to yourself [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-golden-rule/661688.md?page=2)