There's a saying in my country. "The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread."
There aren't any beggars or any people sleeping under bridges in my country who don't want to do that themselves. We have social security for everyone, and homeless shelters for those who cannot behave well enough to not be evicted from apartments.
Or even a small private army for their protection. The poor have to rely on the mercy of the law, the police, and the courts. They don't like having their things stolen, they don't like being accosted in the street, they don't like disorderly conduct around them -- but they don't have nice villas or townhouses to retire to.
I don't think Anatole France really had thought things through when he wrote that quote...