Chapter 80
第八十章
In a little state with a small population,
小国寡民，
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).
使民重死而不远徙。
Though they had boats and carriages, they should have no occasion to ride in them;
虽有舟舆，无所乘之。

though they had buff coats and sharp weapons, they should have no occasion to don or use them.
虽有甲兵，无所陈之。
I would make the people return to the use of knotted cords (instead of the written characters).
使民复结绳而用之。
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，乐其俗。
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,
邻国相望，鸡犬之声相闻，
but I would make the people to old age, even to death, not have any intercourse with it.
民至老死不相往来。