The Golden Rule is commonly understood to mean treat others the way you want to be treated. It is an ethical code that has informed much of humanity’s morality. Its earliest expression is found in ancient wisdom texts and stories in Chinese, Egyptian and Greek societies and it is found in nearly all the world’s religious traditions.
In both the Christian and Jewish traditions, the Golden Rule is stated to be the essence of all religious teaching. As the Parable of the Good Samaritan goes, when an expert on the law asked Jesus what he must do to achieve eternal life, Jesus asked him how he understood the law. He replied, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27)
Similarly, in the Talmud, Rabbi Hillel is believed to have said, "What is hateful to yourself, do not do to your fellow man. That is the whole Torah; the rest is just commentary.”
Above are versions of the Golden Rule that are found in many religious and philosophical traditions. Did we miss anything? Tweet us @HuffPostRelig with #GoldenRule or email us at religion@huffingtonpost.com with the Golden Rule as found in your own tradition.