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Chapter

80

小国寡民。使有什伯之器而不用;使民重死而不远徙。虽有舟舆,无所乘之。虽有甲兵,无所陈之。使民复结绳而用之。
甘其食,美其服,安其居,乐其俗。邻国相望,鸡犬之声相闻,民至老死,不相往来。

A small kingdom with a few people. Even it has a lot of arms, but they would not to be used.
The people fear death and do not migrate far. Even it had boats and tanks, there would be no use. Even it had heavily armed soldiers, nowhere could they be positioned. The people have recovered the use of knotted cords (for counting).
They enjoy their food, appreciate their clothes, like their houses, love their customs.
The peoples of the neighboring kingdom can be seen at distance, and the cries of roosters and dogs are heard from one to another, but throughout their life, the peoples do not meet.

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