Founders CornerThe Conversation: Our Contributors & Guests WriteFounders Corner Library: speeches-pamphlets-letters-quotesThomas Paine Paine: A Precedent That Will Reach to Himself 2011-09-07 Liberty Letters, Thomas Paine He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself. Source: Thomas Paine, Dissertation on First Principles of Government Share this:TwitterFacebookLinkedIn