golden rule

Definitions

1. 1

   A fundamental rule or principle.

   • It is all-important to remember that naturalists have no golden rule by which to distinguish species and varieties; […]
   • There is one golden rule of timetable work, that if a passenger train never runs to time it must be altered or other trains must be altered so that it can shake off its chronic unpunctuality.
   • Here's what we call our golden rule / Have faith in you and the things you do
2. 2

   The principle that one should treat other people in the manner in which one would want to…

   The principle that one should treat other people in the manner in which one would want to be treated by them.

3. 3

   A method of statutory interpretation, whereby a judge will deviate from a literal…

   A method of statutory interpretation, whereby a judge will deviate from a literal interpretation of the law to the extent necessary to circumvent obvious absurdities or (sometimes) conclusions repugnant to public policy.

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