There is a beautiful and thought-provoking quote I chance upon online sometime back. My version of what I recalled is very close to a popular and poignant piece that circulates online. The most common version is:

"She asked me to kill the spider. Instead, I caught it and let it out into the garden. I hope that if I ever end up somewhere I don't belong, someone will be kind enough to do the same for me."

This version is often attributed to Nanea Hoffman and her lifestyle brand, Knitty. It perfectly captures the sentiment of empathy and the "golden rule" according to what I was told. My version ends with "I hope that I would be greeted with the same kindness," a slightly more personal and hopeful twist, but carries the exact same beautiful meaning.