"Treat others as thou wouldst, thyself, be treated."

Voltaire's translation renders the Confucian "Golden Rule" much more in keeping with its later Christian counterpart.

XLI

OF CONFUCIUS

THE Chinese could not reproach themselves with any superstition, any quackery, like other nations. The Chinese government displayed to men upwards of four thousand years ago, and still displays to them, that they may be ruled without being cheated; that the God of truth is not served by falsehood; that superstition is not only useless, but destructive to religion.
     Never was the adoration of God so pure and holy as at China, about the time of the Revelation.
     I do not speak of the sects of the people, I speak of the religion of the princes of that of the tribunals, and above all of the populace.
     What has been the religion of all men of sense in China for many ages? It was this: "Adore heaven and be just." No emperor ever had any other.
     The great Confutse, whom we call Confucius, is often placed among the ancient legislators--amongst the founders of religion; but this is a great mistake. Confucius is very modern; he lived only six hundred and fifty years before our era. He never instituted any doctrine, any rite. He neither called himself inspired nor a prophet; he only united in one body the ancient laws of morality.
     He invites men to forgive injuries, and to remember nothing but good deeds.
     To incessantly watch over themselves, and to correct to-day the faults of yesterday.
     To suppress the passions, and to cultivate friendship--to give without ostentation, and not to receive but in extreme necessity, without meanness.
     He does not say that we "should not do unto others, what we would not they should do unto us." This is only forbidding evil. He does more--he recommends good. "Treat others as thou wouldst, thyself, be treated."
     He does not only teach modesty, but even humility. He recommends all the virtues.

From Voltaire's "The Ignorant Philosopher." published in The Best Known Works of Voltaire, Halcyon House, New York, 1940, Pg. 453.

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