The (oldy but a goldy) Golden Rule

This article was obtained from the Humanist Bulletin Spring 1997, Vol. 4 - No. 2

If anyone should tell you that, without the benefit of Christian teaching, we would all lack the Golden Rule, share with them the following:

Do not to your neighbor what you would take ill from him.-- Pittacus, 650 BCE

Do unto another what you would have him do unto you, and do not do unto another what you would not have him do unto you. Thou needest this law alone. It is the foundation of all the rest.-- Confucius, 500 BCE

Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing.-- Thales, 464 BCE

What you wish your neighbors to be to you, such be also to them.-- Sextus, a Pythagorean, 406 BCE

We should conduct ourselves toward others as we would have them act toward us.-- Aristotle, 385 BCE

Cherish reciprocal benevolence, which will make you as anxious for another's welfare as your own.-- Aristippus of Cyrene, 365 BCE

Act toward others as you desire them to act toward you.-- Isocrates, 338 BCE

Do not do to others what you would not like others to do to you.-- Hillel, 50 BCE

Then, some time later . . .

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.-- Jesus of Nazareth, circa 30 CE