The period of Prohibition - called the noble experiment - brought on the greatest breakdown of law and order the United States has known until today. I think there is a lesson here. Do not regulate the private morals of people. Do not tell them what they can take or not take. Because if you do, they will become angry and antisocial and they will get what they want from criminals who are able to work in perfect freedom because they have paid off the police.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Prohibition showed that regulating private morals leads to crime and disorder.
- In plain terms
- Prohibition caused crime and should teach us not to regulate morals.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid laws that police private moral choices.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What moral choices should be private?
- What did Prohibition teach us?
Another view
Some regulations may be necessary to prevent harm even in private spheres.
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