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To treat others like you would like them to treat you [[Useful Notes/The Golden Rule|is one of the most basic and universal moral principles that exist]]. With all of [[The Golden Rule/Quotes|the different ways of expressing it]], this principle is known as [[The Golden Rule]]. In various works of fiction it surfaces as a [[Stock Aesop]] as well as a [[Stock Phrase]].
 
When played as [[An Aesop]], there are two main ways in which it can come into play. In the negative form (don't treat others in a way you wouldn't want to be treated), the villain (or [[Jerkass]] protagonist) does something bad to another person. He then experiences the same thing being done to him. Or possibly he is [[Hoist Byby His Own Petard]]. He might then decide not to do that to others anymore.
 
In the positive form (treat others like you want to be treated), the Hero might do something good for another without expectation of a reward. This good deed turns out to be very beneficial for the Hero too. Sometimes because the person he helped has unexpectedly returned to reward him. (This is very popular in fairy tales where the beggar woman turns out to be a powerful fairy instead).
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When played as a [[Stock Phrase]], it sometimes uses a quote from religious scriptures, such as the Confucianism page quote for the negative form or the Christianity page quote for the positive form.
 
A character might apply a strawman version of the golden rule, treating people exactly like ''he'' likes to be treated, without any regard for how ''they'' want to be treated. This might lead to him encountering someone who treats him the same way. For example, he might [[Stalker Withwith a Crush|give a lot of attention]] to a woman he's attracted to, insisting that he would love if she treated him the same way - never mind that she isn't attracted to him. Then someone that ''he'' [[Abhorrent Admirer|isn't attracted to]] (and who might be [[Depraved Homosexual|of the same sex]]) treats him the same way. Thus he learns that he shouldn't treat women like that (because, of course, being hit on by someone you don't happen to be interested in is ''just the same'' as being hit on by someone you find actively repellent) - or at least that's what he ''ought'' to learn. The lesson he actually does learn might instead be [[Unfortunate Implications|to shun "ugly" women and homosexuals]].
 
When judging if a action is moral or not, one can either see to [[The Deontologist|the principle behind the action]] or [[The Utilitarian|to the consequences of the action]]. For morality based on principles, the golden rule is the most common principle to base the morality on. A common subversion is that the Golden Rule is: "[[Screw the Rules, I Have Money|He who has the Gold makes the rules!]]". Another is "[[Do Unto Others Before They Do Unto Us]]".
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== [[Anime]] ==
* In ''[[Naruto (Manga)|Naruto]]'', other characters open up to the protagonist - trust him and help him - because they realize that he is doing the same for them.
 
== [[Film]] ==
* Invoked in ''[[Enemy Mine (Filmfilm)|Enemy Mine]]'', when the alien Jerry teaches Davidge about the religious believes of his people. When Davidge points out that the same thing is said in the Bible, the alien isn't suprised at all, since "truth is truth".
* This one of the many morals promoted by ''[[It's a Wonderful Life (Film)|Its a Wonderful Life]]''
 
== [[Literature]] ==
* ''[[The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster]]'': The spirit of the rule is played straight, while the literal wording of the biblical version os played with in the 8:th commandment. FSM really prefers if we don't do stuff to others that we would like them to do to us but they don't want us to do to them. Oh, and that goes especially for rough sex.
* [[Discworld (Literature)/Small Gods|Small Gods]] has one of the cynical subversions: the Great God Om advises "Do unto others before they do unto you." He gets called out on his lack of compassion by Brutha in a [["The Reason You Suck" Speech]] during the crossing of the desert.
* Invoked in [[Robert A. Heinlein|Heinlein]]'s ''[[The Cat Who Walks Through Walls (Literature)|The Cat Who Walks Through Walls]]'': The main character lives in a habitat called Golden Rule. Where, we are told, there is only one rule, and all others are merely derived from it.
** However, the only interpretation of the Golden Rule practiced in the habitat is that of the station's feudal ruler.
* [[The Bible (Literature)|The Bible]] uses this in the stories about Jesus. Invoked by the main character as a moral principle, and also used as [[An Aesop]] in several of the parables (short stories within the main story). The most famous is the story of the Good Samaritan (which is specifically about applying this to strangers and people outside one's own tribe).
* Inverted in Anton LaVey's ''The Satanic Bible'' with the "Lex Talionis" (Law of Reprisal): "Do unto others as they do unto you."
* [[The Talmud (Literature)|The Talmud]] gives us the tale of Hillel the Elder, a Rabbi who was challenged by a Gentile to teach him the whole of the Torah while he stood on one foot. Hillel replied "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole of the Torah; the rest is commentary."
* In the ''[[Vorkosigan Saga (Literature)|Vorkosigan Saga]]'', a subversion was given of a Vor lord who loved liversweets and therefore gave them to everyone, not understanding why they never gave any to him.
* [[Diane Duane]]'s [[Star Trek]] novel ''Spock's World'' has a particularly poetic version of this rule, credited to Surak: "The spear in the other's heart is the spear in your own; you are he."
* In ''Ape and Essence'' by Aldous Huxley, the catechism of the [[Religion of Evil]] includes: "My duty towards my neighbor is to do my best to prevent him from doing unto me what I should like to do unto him."
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== [[Music]] ==
* Played straight as Aesop (and also invoked) in Clawfingers ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gv4cPCZXpc Two Sides (of every story)]''. See page quote.
* Inverted/Parodied in a [[Benny Hill (Creator)|Benny Hill]] song: "Do unto others before they do it unto you."
 
== Webcomics ==
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{{quote| '''Jeremy Bentham''': "The greatest felicity for all is here! Eh? Come on! Maximize your felicity in option D! Wooh!" <br />
'''Christ''': "Option A is made of fire!" }}
* ''[[Schlock Mercenary (Webcomic)|Schlock Mercenary]]'' book "[[Big Book of War|The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Pirates]]" has a somewhat abridged version: "Do unto others".
* Florence from ''[[Freefall (Webcomic)|Freefall]]'' [http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff600/fv00546.htm points out] a common mistake.
* Another mistake pointed out [http://www.explosm.net/comics/2266/ here].
 
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* Played as an underlying Aesop in Disney's ''[[Beauty and The Beast (Disney)|Beauty and Thethe Beast]]''. What really sets him free is that he lets Belle go. No longer his prisoner, she is free to love him, thus releasing him from his own magical prison. (Now, if only someone could give that [[Disproportionate Retribution|horrible Enchantress]] a taste of her own medicine so that she could eventually learn the same lesson?)
* The common subversion shows up in ''[[Aladdin (Disney film)|Aladdin]]'':
{{quote| '''Jafar:''' "You've heard of the golden rule, haven't you? [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money|Whoever has the gold makes the rules]]."}}
* A [[Duck TalesDuckTales]] episode describes [[Scrooge McDuck]] as a follower of the same subversion. At least before he was taught the true meaning.
* The Little Troll Prince has a group of trolls reciting their subversion of the Golden Rule, "Do unto others before they do unto you." Later, human children go on to instruct the prince on what their version of the Golden Rule is.
* When Homer hears the Golden Rule on ''[[The Simpsons (Animationanimation)|The Simpsons]]'' he responds, "Right, that'll work."
 
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