silver rule

silver rule (plural silver rules)

1. (ethics) The principle that one should not treat other people in the manner in which one would not want to be treated by them.
   • 1934, J. O. Hertzler, “On Golden Rules”, in International Journal of Ethics, volume 44, number 4, page 421:

     Confucius (551-479 BC) squarely faces the issue and gives us the first specific statement of the rule in its negative form, sometimes referred to as the "Silver Rule."

• golden rule
• moral minimum