The most common statement of the Golden Rule is probably “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This moral teaching appears twice in the New Testament. Matthew 7:12 in the New Revised Version of the Bible reads, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” The reference to “the law” is to the Torah, the first five books of the Jewish scriptures. Luke 6:31 in the New Revised Version reads, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Both Gospels attribute this teaching to Jesus.

The Golden Rule urges us to put ourselves in the place of others, to see the world through their eyes, to ...