ProverbMoralityGerman origin

Was du nicht willst, dass man dir tu, das füg auch keinem andern zu

Meaning: Don't do to others what you wouldn't want done to you.

Literally: What you do not want done to you, do not do to anyone else either

Example: “Lach nicht über ihn. Was du nicht willst, dass man dir tu, das füg auch keinem andern zu.” — Don't laugh at him: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, and 5 more languages

  • English: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
  • French: Ne fais pas à autrui ce que tu ne voudrais pas qu'on te fasse (literally: Don't do to others what you wouldn't want done to you)
  • Spanish: Trata a los demás como quieras que te traten (literally: Treat others as you want to be treated)
  • Japanese: 己の欲せざる所、人に施す勿れ (Onore no hossezaru tokoro, hito ni hodokosu nakare) (literally: Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself)
  • Portuguese: Não faças aos outros o que não gostas que te façam a ti (literally: Don't do to others what you wouldn't like done to you)
  • Dutch: Wat gij niet wilt dat u geschiedt, doe dat ook een ander niet (literally: What you don't want done to you, don't do to another)
  • Russian: Чего себе не хочешь, того и другому не твори (Chego sebe ne khochesh', togo i drugomu ne tvori) (literally: What you don't want for yourself, don't do to another)
  • Polish: Nie czyń drugiemu, co tobie niemiłe (literally: Don't do to another what you dislike)
  • Arabic: عامل الناس بما تحب أن يعاملوك به (ʿĀmil an-nās bimā tuḥibbu an yuʿāmilūka bih) (literally: Treat people as you'd like them to treat you)
  • Turkish: İğneyi kendine, çuvaldızı başkasına batır (literally: Prick yourself with a needle before you prick others with a packing needle)

Origin: The golden rule in rhyme (tu, zu), in its negative form, as in the Book of Tobit: do that to no man which thou hatest.

More proverbs about Morality

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

  • Backpfeifengesicht A face that is just begging to be slapped — someone so smug you can't help the urge.
  • Schadenfreude The guilty little pleasure of taking satisfaction in someone else's misfortune.
  • Fernweh An aching longing for far-off places you've never been — the opposite of homesickness.

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