評論
打印
Chapter 80
第八十章
In a little state with a small population,
小國寡民，
I would so order it, that, though there were individuals with the abilities of ten or a hundred men, there should be no employment of them;
使民有什伯之器而不用，
I would make the people, while looking on death as a grievous thing, yet not remove elsewhere (to avoid it).
使民重死而不遠徙。
Though they had boats and carriages, they should have no occasion to ride in them;
雖有舟輿，無所乘之。
though they had buff coats and sharp weapons, they should have no occasion to don or use them.
雖有甲兵，無所陳之。
I would make the people return to the use of knotted cords (instead of the written characters).
使民復結繩而用之。
They should think their (coarse) food sweet; their (plain) clothes beautiful;
甘其食，美其服，
their (poor) dwellings places of rest; and their common (simple) ways sources of enjoyment.
安其居，樂其俗。
There should be a neighbouring state within sight, and the voices of the fowls and dogs should be heard all the way from it to us,
鄰國相望，雞犬之聲相聞，
but I would make the people to old age, even to death, not have any intercourse with it.
民至老死不相往來。
