Thomas Paine Quote

Famous Quote from Thomas Paine,

"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."

By:	Thomas Paine (more quotes by Thomas Paine or books by/about Thomas Paine)
	(1737-1809) US Founding father, pamphleteer, author
Source:	Dissertation on First Principles of Government, 7 July 1795
Categories:	Compassion, Crime, Duty, Government, Oppression, Police, Power, Prejudice, Punishment, Safety, Security, Wisdom
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