Good point, Oceander. We are all familiar with the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you). But the Golden Rule assumes that those others want the same things that you want, and people’s desires do differ. A harder rule, which we might call “the Diamond Rule”: do unto others as they as they want to be done to, just as you want them to so do unto you.
I completely agree. Another recasting of the Golden Rule that I think makes more sense is this: do not do unto others what you would not have done to you. It’s not quite as strong as your formulation, but it does put a little more emphasis on the primacy of the wants and needs of the individual as s/he defines them, and a little less on the transference of one’s own wants and needs onto others.
But as I recently rediscovered the original source for the Golden Rule(not titled that though) is the Bible.
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things, whatever you desire that men should do to you, do even so to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.
It is the second part that about it being a summary of the law and prophets that gives it a lot of authority. Quote being from Jesus doesn't hurt either.