"An avidity to punish is always dangerous to liberty. It leads men to stretch, to misinterpret, and to misapply even the best of laws. He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates his duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." | Quote by: | Thomas Paine
(1737-1809) US Founding father, pamphleteer, author |
Source: | Dissertation on First Principles of Government, 7 July 1795 |
| |
| |
- More Thomas Paine Quotes
- Books by or about Thomas Paine
- This Thomas Paine quote is found in these quote Categories:
Compassion quotes, Crime quotes, Duty quotes, Government quotes, Oppression quotes, Police quotes, Power quotes, Prejudice quotes, Punishment quotes, Safety quotes, Security quotes, Wisdom quotes | |
 |
More Quotations
| |
