(n.) Any opinion, principle, belief, or doctrine; as, the tenets of Plato or of Cicero\.

a belief article of faith axiom belief canon code commandment convention conviction credo creed dictum doctrine dogma form formula general principle golden rule guideline guiding principle idea ideology imperative law maxim mitzvah moral norm opinion ordinance persuasion position precept principium principle regulation rubric rule settled principle standard teaching view viewpoint working principle working rule