Alfred the Great (r. 871 – 899) dies—the only British sovereign to be called “Great.”  Alfred issued Book of Domes, which combined the existing statutes of the Anglo-Saxon realms of Kent, Wessex and Mercia with the Ten Commandments, German custom and the Golden Rule of Jesus: “What ye will that other men should not do to you, that do ye not to other men.’ … By bearing this in mind a judge can do justice to all men; he needs no other law-books.”  Libertarians understand the Golden Rule as the “Non-Aggression Principle”: “Being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.”—No Victim? No Crime!

       NOTE: The Golden Rule, or “Ethic of Reciprocity” is found the sacred texts of nearly every religion. It can be regarded as an alm4ost universal truth that crosses all cultures:

• Bahá’í Faith: “And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself.” —— Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, 30;
• Buddhist Faith: “Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.” —— Udana-Varga;
• Hindu Faith: “This is the sum of duty: do naught to others which if done to thee would cause thee pain.” —— The Mahabharata;
• Jain Faith: “A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. ” —— Sutrakritanga 1.11.33;
• Jewish Faith: “What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.” —— Talmud, Shabbat 31a;
• Muslim Faith: “No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.” —— Hadith;
• Zoroastrian Faith: “Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others.” —— Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29;

       And yet some other sources:

• “Do not do unto others what angers you if done to you by others.” —— Isocrates 436-338 B.C.;
• “An it harm none, do what thou wilt.” —— Wiccan Rede;
• “Tzu-kung asked, ‘Is there a single word which can be a guide to conduct throughout one’s life?’ The Master said, ‘It is perhaps the word shu. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.’” —— Analects of Confucius, 15.24;
• “Refraining from doing what we blame in others.” —— Thales
• “One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.” —— African Traditional Religions. Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)

       [restored 5/22/2021]