Russian variant of the same: "The severity of Russian laws is compensated by optionality of compliance with them." This, and the lack of independent judiciary branch, actually gives the government total power over the individuals and businesses. Laws (including tax laws) are written such that there's really no way to live and not break any of them, which is why the government always "has something on you" if it wishes to prosecute you or just take your money because you don't "share" it with government officials.
"Do you really think we want those laws to be observed? We want them to be broken. There is no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking the law. Create a nation of lawbreakers and then you can cash in on the guilt." --Ayn Rand
She was speaking from experience.
That's one aspect, the opposite side of it is if you don't violate the laws you can't survive coz everyone else is doing so, powerful ones even get free pass.
They actually say "The mountains are high and the emperor is far away..."