第八十章  天人合一

小國寡民。使有什伯之器而不用，使民重死而不遠徙。雖有舟輿無所乘之，雖有甲兵無所陳之。使民復結繩而用之。
甘其食，美其服，安其居，樂其俗。鄰國相望，雞犬之聲相聞，民至老死不相往來。

Harmony between Nature and Human

An ideal, peaceful nation issupposed to have small communities with few people in harmony with nature.Although they have goods and equipment in abundance few of them are even used.They have great love of life, and are content to be right where they are.

Even though they have plenty ofhorses, wagons and boats, they won't feel that they need to use them. Even ifthey have weapons and shields, they will keep them out of sight.

Even if there are ships andcarriages, none will ride in them. Even if there are arrows and weapons, nonewill display them.

People prefer to re t a simplelife to keep knotted rope for records. they are contented with their food, pleasedwith their clothing, satisfied with their houses, and and delighted in theircustoms.

And eventhough the next country is so close

that peoplecan hear its roosters crowing and its dogs

barking,

They arecontent to lead a life in natural way,

And they don’thave curiosity to know more about their neighbors.

 [譯文]

遠古時期國家地域小，人口少。那時，即使有各種器具也派不上用途；百姓重養(yǎng)生，不遠征遷徙。雖有船只車輛，也不必乘坐；雖有武器裝備，也無處陳列。使人們回到古代結繩記事之年代的生活，吃的香，穿的舒適，住的稱心，樂融融地生活。