己所不欲勿施于人

Golden Rule

Confucianism · teaching

Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself. The Confucian statement of universal ethical reciprocity. It is stated in the Analects as the single thread running through all of Confucius's teaching, rooted in the virtue of shu (reciprocity) -- using your own heart as a measure for how to treat others.

As Confucius taught through the Analects and as the Confucian tradition of self-cultivation holds, Golden Rule represents a key concept that continues to inform philosophical thought and practice today.

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What Are the Key Facts About Golden Rule?

  • Tradition: Confucianism
  • Chinese: 己所不欲勿施于人
  • Category: Teaching
  • Definition: Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.

Further Reading and Sources

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Further Reading