ἄμεινον γὰρ ἑαυτῷ φυλάττειν τὴν ἐλευθερίαν τοῦ ἑτέρων ἀφαιρεῖσθαι → for it is better to guard one's own freedom than to deprive another of his
(see also προλοχίζω): occupy with an ambush