"Here's my Golden Rule for a tarnished age: Be fair with others, but keep after them until they're fair with you"

Alan Alda's quote, "Here's my Principle for a ruined age: Be fair with others, however keep after them until they're reasonable with you", offers a nuanced approach to social relationships. At its core, this statement recommends a balance between fairness and assertiveness, promoting for a moral balance that appreciates both personal limits and the borders of others.

First of all, Alda's use of the expression "Golden Rule" recommends a recommendation to the traditional ethical dictum, frequently articulated as "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". However, Alda adapts this principle to match a "ruined age"-- a term which might describe our present period, marked by prevalent disillusionment with social agreements, principles, and maybe even empathy. This adjustment implies a requirement for an ethical recalibration, changing traditional knowledge to fulfill contemporary difficulties.

The call to "be reasonable with others" underscores a foundational expectation of decency. It promotes a preliminary anticipation of goodwill, where interactions start from a location of regard and equality. This element of the quote stresses the importance of fairness and stability, advising people to deal with others with the respect they themselves desire, lining up closely with the intrinsic essence of empathetic understanding and ethical duty.

However, Alda introduces a crucial caveat: "however keep after them up until they're fair with you". This part of the quote suggests that fairness needs to not be one-sided. It is a tip that while one must strive to deal with others justly, it is likewise essential to ensure that the respect and fairness are reciprocated. This indicates a proactive position where one ought to not passively accept unfair treatment, but rather, supporter for one's rights and dignity. It worries the value of perseverance in seeking justice and fair treatment from others, reflecting a resistant stance versus being exploited or undervalued.

Overall, Alda's quote catches the complex interplay between selflessness and self-assertion, urging a balanced technique where generosity and fairness are kept, however not at the cost of one's self-respect or justice.