"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."

                    ~ Thomas Paine 

"Precedents are dangerous things; 

let the reins of government then be braced and held with a steady hand, 

and every violation of the Constitution be reprehended: 

If defective let it be amended, but not suffered to be trampled upon whilst it has an existence." 

              ~ George Washington

"Judicial judgment must take deep account...of the day before yesterday in order that yesterday may not paralyze today." 

               ~ Felix Frankfurter

When bad precedents are set,

the door to the bad will happen not just to the victim, but to anyone and future generations.