Do as you would be done by.你愿别人怎样对待你,你就应怎样对待别人。
这条谚语中,do与by的宾语都是省略的。完整的讲法应该是:Do somebody as you would be done by others。这里的Do是“对待”的意思。这谚语还有另一种说法:
Do unto others as you would they should do unto you.
还有一句相近意思的谚语:
Live and let live.
自己活,也让别人活。(即“推己及人”)
美国已故肯尼迪总统曾说过:“Ask not what your country can do for you,ask what you can do for your country.”(不应要求国家为你做什么,应先要求自己能为国家做什么。)
基督教徒往往认为这是善行的本质,不这样就会受到惩罚。孔子也早说过“己所不欲,勿施于人。”又说:“己欲立而立人,己欲达而达人。”也是这个意思。所以这条谚语可说是全世界人类待人处世的准则。