[334] At Sāvatthī. ...
Seated to one side, King Pasenadi of Kosala said this to the Blessed One: "Here, venerable sir, while I was alone in seclusion (paṭisallīna), this reflection arose in my mind: 'For whom, indeed, is the self (attā) dear? For whom is the self not dear?' Then, venerable sir, it occurred to me: 'Those who engage in misconduct (duccarita) by body, engage in misconduct by speech, and engage in misconduct by mind — for them the self is not dear. Even though they should say, "The self is dear to us," still for them the self is not dear. For what reason? Because whatever one who is not dear would do to one who is not dear, that they do to themselves by their very own selves. Therefore for them the self is not dear. But those who engage in good conduct (sucarita) by body, engage in good conduct by speech, and engage in good conduct by mind — for them the self is dear. Even though they should say, "The self is not dear to us," still for them the self is dear. For what reason? Because whatever one who is dear would do to one who is dear, that they do to themselves by their very own selves. Therefore for them the self is dear.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.