I posted this

When we create laws to prevent immoral behavior, we make society less moral

to provoke Jeff’s philosopher into telling me which book to go read. I was expecting something from the 20th century. He found something a little older

The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be.
The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be.
The more subsidies you have, the less self-reliant people will be.

Tao te Ching. Ch 57