The Golden Rule or ethic of reciprocity is a maxim, ethical code, or morality that essentially states either of the following:

• One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself (positive form)
• One should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated (negative/prohibitive form, also called the Silver Rule)

The Golden Rule is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights, in which each individual has a right to just treatment, and a reciprocal responsibility to ensure justice for others.