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Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself.

Confucius, Analects 15.24

Philosophy

The story behind the card

Confucius (551–479 BC) was a teacher and official in the state of Lu, in today's Shandong, China. In Analects 15.24 his disciple Zigong asks whether one word could guide a whole life. Confucius answers shu, 'reciprocity' or 'consideration', and explains it with this line. The Analects, sayings gathered by his followers, were studied for China's civil service exams until 1905. This 'do not' form is sometimes called the Silver Rule, beside the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated.

Türkçe oku
Kendine yapılmasını istemediğin şeyi başkalarına yapma.
Konfüçyüs, Seçme Konuşmalar 15.24

Konfüçyüs (MÖ 551–479), bugün Çin'in Shandong eyaletinde kalan Lu devletinde öğretmenlik ve devlet görevi yaptı. Seçme Konuşmalar'ın 15.24. bölümünde öğrencisi Zigong ona, bütün bir hayata yol gösterecek tek bir sözcük olup olmadığını sorar. Konfüçyüs “shu” der ve genellikle “karşılıklılık” ya da “başkasını gözetme” diye çevrilen bu sözcüğü bu cümleyle açıklar. Öğrencilerinin derlediği Seçme Konuşmalar, 1905'e kadar Çin'de devlet memurluğu sınavlarında okutuldu. Neyin yapılmaması gerektiğini söyleyen bu biçime bazen “Gümüş Kural” denir; “Altın Kural” ise başkalarına, sana nasıl davranılmasını istiyorsan öyle davranmayı öğütler. Türkçede “İğneyi kendine, çuvaldızı başkasına batır” atasözü de benzer bir duyguyu dile getirir.

Sources and further reading

Background reading: Confucius
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