Although the golden rule is often associated with religion, essentially, it's the ethical principle of treating other people as one's self would prefer to be treated. Whether referred to as the golden rule of Christianity or any other religion, it's a universal law that can be applied to anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, or religion. However, while just one golden rule is widely known and accepted, there can be numerous.
In essence, the golden rules refer to subjective principles a person always obeys, no matter the circumstances. And while the universal rules of life may differ per individual, they usually contain advice that may benefit, if not everyone, then many individuals. When a while back, someone asked on Reddit, "What is your golden rule?" from the number of upvotes on the entries, it became apparent that many people share similar rules to live by.
Below, we've compiled some of the best answers from the thread, sharing the golden rules people abide by. Do you agree with any of the rules below? If you do, make sure to give them an upvote! Also, what is the golden rule you follow that hasn't been mentioned in the list? Let us know in the comments!
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"If you make a mistake, apologize sincerely."
This is a must, although i Also tend to explain how i made the mistake, when there is an explanation....
"You can measure a person's soul by how they treat service staff."
"Be where you said you were going to be when you said you were going to be there."
mintzie said:
"Be hard on the problem and soft on the person."
WaffleFoxes replied:
"My religious extended family did such a great job of this. They're the "genuine believer" sorts that do missions trips and visit prisons and such. They deeply believe that some things are sinful and you shouldn't do them.
However, when one son got his high school girlfriend pregnant they just did what they could to support them both. Another son brought his new girlfriend - a former stripper - to the family reunion and everybody was perfectly welcoming. They're good at taking the "This isn't the path we would have chosen, but we're family so sit down and grab one of grandma's cookies and let's play some Rummikub" point of view."
True christian behavior. Following christ should be a choice. Everyone has to follow their own path there, if they do. It is not a choice if you don't know different, are forced, shamed into it or excommunicated if you don't. More humanist than anything else because i know the archeological history of the Bible.
"If you don't have time to do it right, what makes you think you have time to do it twice?"
because i can do it again later, when i have more time, i just need it to last until then
"Be a decent/kind human being, regardless of whether or not it will benefit you. The world needs more good people, why not be one?"
Being kind does benefit yourself though. It's nice to be nice. Or so I've heard :D
"Always wash out my oatmeal bowl immediately after finishing it."
Either that.... Or leat it soak for a wille if you forget to wash it right afterwards....
"You don't know what someone else may be dealing with, so be understanding. Always be honest. Try to do the right thing, even when no one is watching."
"If you aren't bothering me and/or hurting anyone, I don't give really care what you're doing."
"Everything in moderation."
"Don't tell people what emotion they are feeling. Whether you outright accuse them of it (i.e. "You don't have to get so upset about it!", "Stop overreacting", etc.) or indirectly claim it through a question (i.e. "Why do you get so embarrassed when..."), it is often embarrassing or even insulting to the individual to have their entire current state of being reduced to a single word. That word you just accused them of being, even when used with the best intentions, does not even come close to the way they are really feeling.
This is my philosophy on why the common "Calm down", "Stop overreacting", etc. are often responded to with "I AM CALM" or "I'M NOT OVERREACTING." It's not that they disagree with you, it's that you are misrepresenting the way they feel. Instead, try asking them how they feel. Let them describe it to you because once you understand them in their own terms, you will better understand how they are perceiving the conversation. I have become very aware of this and find that my conversations are much more meaningful and effective when I make a conscious effort to avoid it."
No one can control what emotional reactions they have. Emotions just happen and no one can control what or how they feel. But people can indeed decide what they do with those emotions and how to react to the situation. And so what you should do is using your emotions and evaluate the situation considering them. If you do that and the emotional response wasn't reasonable, you'll calm down yourself,but if it was reasonable, those emotions will bring you to action to solve the problems causing them.
"Always restart your computer first."
"Be tolerant of others' beliefs, ideals, and choices. If it's not affecting you or yours, it's really none of your business."
This one and the "if you arne't bothering me and /or hurting anyone, I don't really care what you're doing" - I'm not sure. Doesn't that also imply turning your back on the world? Not correcting kids/people to make the world a better place? Yes ofcourse there is a limit in how much to meddle with other peoples. Be tolerant, but also, guide, educate, speak up about unacceptable behaviour. If people did that more, there might be less a******s around and people would be more aware of the impact of their behaviour on the world around them.
"Be a leader, not a boss."
👏 Lead 👏 By 👏 Example! 👏 Practice 👏 What 👏 You 👏 Preach 👏 Thank you..
"Everyone has a story. There's a reason for the behavior of everyone. Reach out when you see people in need. You can change lives."
"Driver picks the music. Don't touch my radio, I won't touch yours."
"Don't make promises you can't keep or don't plan on keeping."
My wife does this. "Where? Oh Yeah! We'll be there give us a minute!" *Me sitting in my undies* What did you just agree to?...
"Don't argue in front of the kids."
wish more people remembered this, the world would be a much better place
"'Do not speak of the ocean to the frog that lives in the well.'
It's great to be open to new things, but you'll be much happier when you accept that you can't drag everyone along with you. You'll waste a lot of breath and just get tuned out. Everyone has to find their own path."
Deep, i like this analogy, Im a firm believer in the motto " live and let live "
temporary_spastic said:
"Never make fun of or criticize someone's job. If they are working hard to provide for themselves and their family, then that is something that should be admired and respected no matter how unglamorous the job may be."
Barefootsurf replied:
"The only job to be ashamed of is a job done poorly."
If someone is willing to pay for it, then it's a real job were a need exists. And jobs should be paid in regards of the winnings it brings the company and not some vague idea of prestige. The work of a fast food worker generates billions for the fast food company. So no matter how 'unskilled' it is, not paying a living wage is a scam.
"Just because someone worked in the company longer than you, or was there before you, doesn't necessarily make them more competent than you."
"Don't shoot down an idea you can't improve upon."
True. There was an issue with the wild horse population in the US being too big and they were visibly starving. Since they were on national park land people complained until the government started feeding them. A healthy herd will double in size every four years. There is not enough of a market for wild horses so there was talk of spaying them. (Has to be the females since one intact male can impregnate them all.) Then the complaint was that the spaying is major surgery in a horse and without post operative care, many would die of infection. Ok, what are we supposed to do?
"If I have the ability and the resources to help someone, it's my job to do my part."
Theshycamel said:
"Always check behind a closed shower curtain before going to the bathroom."
Unknown replied: "So true! My family always closes the shower curtain to "make it look nice". I have to have it open 'because murderers'."
"I'm not buying anything someone is trying to sell me. I buy things that I have found A need for."
"If an opportunity comes by to do something cool and is unlikely to re-present itself in the near future, take it."
"The way one grows up, the hardships someone experiences through life is not a valid excuse for bad behavior. Let the past go and instead use it to make you a more mindful and developed person."
this is far easier said than done though, be patient with people, aslong as you can see that their trying
"Always look for a free/open-source alternative for software first.
In 99% of the cases, you'll find something that is equally well or even better."
"'The safest way to double your money is to fold it over twice and put it in your pocket' - Frank McKinney Hubbard
Was an impulsive buyer and this changed my life."
Stabfacenotback said:
"The best things in life aren't things."
Leonoor8 replied:
"My parents have a little frame with a picture of me and my sister with this text on the frame."
I try to ask myself if something will make my life better or just easier. I don't have a vehicle, but there are times I wish I did (like when it's raining and I have to walk my kid to school. But I live in a part of town where walking to almost everything is well within walking distance and we have a great bus system for what isn't. Getting a vehicle would absolutely make my life easier, but I get lots of exercise and my kids don't complain when we go for a long walk.
"Man everyone here has good rules while mine is just 'always try to p**p before you shower'"
"Trust, but verify."
"Not to be aggressive ever while angry, unless it's self-defense."
"We know the golden rule is "treat others how you would like to be treated," but I prefer, "treat others how they want to be treated." Who knows anyone better than themselves."
"Never betray anyone's secret if they've entrusted it to me. Enemies can become friends just as easily as friends can become enemies. Their trust in my reasoning is never to be used as levity."
"Always, ALWAYS, let people underestimate you. That way, it's easier to beat them."
This is true, never show your cards, play " dumb " for a wille, and " read " the other people, they Will show their true face if think you're a little " simpleton "..
Est92Female said:
"When in doubt, turn left."
Unknown replied:
"I'm spinning like a dreidel at this point, don't think I'm doing it right."
"Mine is, under-promise, over-deliver."
No, people will not know how to eh how do you say it, "wat ze aan je hebben" - sometimes doing as is requested, asked, is best, it is clear, simple, people don't start to expect more from you (last time I asked them to sweep the path they promised to clean the doormat and then tidied the entire front garden! So next time if I ask them to get some weeds out in the backyard I might end up with a complete garden renovation...)
"Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver."
Deppends, i personaly like the nylon reinforced One, that One is transparent and white....
I_Raptus said:
"What you do to one side of an equation, you must do to the other."
rolandhorn27 replied:
"Equivalent Exchange."
"My grandmother's golden rules that stuck with me all my life. Never let someone borrow your car, gun, or your woman."
"You are responsible for your actions, but don't let people tell you that you are responsible for their feelings. Everyone controls their own emotions. Nobody "makes" you feel anyway."
"Never go back out with exes. If you sell your car because it's a lemon you don't buy it back the next week because you miss the smell of the interior, it's still a lemon."
Dunno about this one. People can change, cars not so much (not for the better anyway) Source: if my now husband hadn't given me a 2nd try, we would've missed out on the 16 years and 4 wonderful kids that we now share 😊
"Spend no more than $50 during a Steam sale."
damamas said:
"Have more than you show, speak less than you know."
DomainError replied:
"Never reveal your power level."
"If someone has more wins than losses, I'll be Sub-Zero. If they have more losses than wins I'll be either Predator, Raiden, Takeda, or Goro."
"When an argument breaks out, stay neutral until your hand is forced. Think of yourself as Switzerland, this neutral body just observing warring factions at work/school etc."
'if your not with us your against us' great way to drive yourself away from both sides, switzerland has banks that held money from the wealthy of both sides, they would have lost to much is they went to war. you are not them
"Always move forward."
"You're just the same as every other hump that drew breath. We're all fighting our own problems. Don't ever think you're better than someone else."
"Good egg rule. If you are making conversation and ask 3 questions without them asking you anything, they are not a good egg."
"If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."
I prefer if you want it done the way you want it done, do it yourself. The exception is if you're teaching someone to do something they don't already know how to do.
"All software is broken. (I've been doing software QA for a while...)"
The_Fassbender said:
"Morals, Empathy, Motives, Effort."
3dank5maymay replied:
"Does Anyone Notice Kindness is missing?"
"When in trouble or in doubt, run in circles scream, and shout."
" Prometheus school of running away from things " ( Google it its hilarious ), Im more of the style Run away as fast and as far as you can ( in case of trouble ), when in doubt, just walk the other way, if the " doubt " starts following you, then procede to " the trouble " method.
"The moment someone scares you, they've won."
No, just no. Being aware of one's fear is important. And if it's reasonable it's irresponsible to not take it into consideration. Fear is a useful emotion you should listen to. It can teach you a lot about yourself. Don't ignore it or you'll fail eventually. If someone scares you, take a step back and evaluate the situation and then act accordingly and carefully plan your counter measure.
"Don't trust people that wear bow-ties or tell you their life story within the first 5 minutes of meeting them."
