LEV704 We suggested earlier that the moral rule "Love thy neighbor as thyself" posits a standard of impartiality and equality between the self and the other. "Do not do to your fellow man what you would not want done to yourself." Nachmanides makes it clear that this rule cannot be a requirement for the individual to become as involved with the other, and as devoted to him, as he is to himself (Commentary on this verse). We all obviously have certain duties to ourselves that take priority. As Rabbi Akiva said, "Thy life is prior to the life of others" (Bava Metzia 62). What the rule does require is that we cherish the person and property of the other even as we do our own, so that we do not cause any harm to him or damage to his property. The rule further implies that we must be concerned with his needs when it does not necessitate the neglect of our own. It also implies that we should desire for our fellow all that we wish for ourselves and not be envious of him.