"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
Anatole France, Le Lys Rouge, ch. 7 (1894)
One wonders whether Anatole spoke with sarcasm, which would certainly have gotten lost in translation (from oral to written, and from French to English).
Knowing the French as I do, I would have to guess there was at least a small bit of tongue in cheek.
good luck