These days the world often seems to be ruled by "An eye for an eye". Hammurabi may have indeed encoded that into one of our earliest written laws ever found.

Ultimately it is flawed.

If someone damages your eye. Damage their eye.

If someone is racist towards you. Be racist towards them.

These things are self perpetuating destructive paths. If you are satisfied with people taking eyes, and perhaps are fine with racism then indeed this law might work for you.

Not long after that the many versions of what we call the "Golden Rule" came into being. No it is not a Christian creation. There are examples of it in Egyptian texts and many other texts.

This is the famous...

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Or to simplify it. Treat people the way you want to be treated.

Eye for an eye is about vengeance.

The golden rule is about stopping the cycle and producing a positive environment.

"They cheated, so I'm going to cheat" just makes cheaters of everyone and is a cycle of corruption. It solves nothing. It creates a pattern of decay.

The idea of "Turning the other cheek" partially comes out of thoughts like this. If someone punches you and you can simply offer your other cheek and the fight will end then that is likely the best way to go. If by turning the other cheek you invite your own destruction on the other hand that is not a good thing.

All such platitudes and rules should be tempered with wisdom and reason. If something someone is doing is going to destroy you or others then obviously you must act and defend yourself and others.

The golden rule is a good place to start. Eye for an eye is a bad place to go.