小国寡民是老子所描绘的理想社会，它反映了中国古代社会自给自足的生活方式。本章大意：使国家变小，使人民稀少。即使有各种各样的器具，却并不使用；使人民重视死亡，而不向远方迁徙；虽然有船只车辆，却不必每次坐它；虽然有武器装备，却没有地方去布阵打仗；使人民再回复到远古结绳记事的自然状态之中。国家治理得好极了，使人民认为他们的食物可口，服装美丽，居所安定，民俗欢愉。国与国之间互相望得见，鸡犬的叫声都可以听得见，但人民从生到死，也不互相往来。

《道德经》（第八十章）

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。

至治之极。

甘美食，

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。

Chapter 80

Let there be a small state with few people,

where military devices find no use;

Let the people look solemnly upon death,

and banish the thought of moving elsewhere.

They may have carts and boats,

but there is no reason to ride them;

They may have armor and weapons,

but they have no reason to display them.

Let the people go back to tying knots to keep records.

Let

their food be savory,

their clothes beautiful,

their customs pleasurable,

their dwellings secure.

Though they may gaze across at a neighboring state, and hear the sounds of its dogs and chickens,

The people will never travel back and forth, till they die of old age.

（Victor H. Mair 译）

Chapter 80

If a country is governed wisely,

its inhabitants will be content.

They enjoy the labor of their hands

and don’t waste time inventing

labor-saving machines.

Since they dearly love their homes,

they aren’t interested in travel.

There may be a few wagons and boats,

but these don’t go anywhere.

There may be an arsenal of weapons,

but nobody ever uses them.

People enjoy their food,

take pleasure in being with their families,

spend weekends working in their gardens,

delight in the doings of the neighborhood.

And even though the next country is so close

that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking,

they are content to die of old age

without ever having gone to see it.

（Steven Mitchell 译）

Chapter 80

Let the country be small and people few—

Bring it about that there are weapons for “tens” and “hundreds,” yet let no one use them;

Have the people regard death gravely and put migrating far from their minds.

Though they might have boats and carriages, no one will ride them;

Though they might have armor and spears, no one will display them.

Have the people return to knotting cords and using them.

They will relish their food,

Regard their clothing as beautiful,

Delight in their customs,

And feel safe and secure in their homes.

Neighboring states might overlook one another,

And the sounds of chickens and dogs might be overheard,

Yet the people will arrive at old age and death with no comings and goings between them.

（Robert G. Henricks 译）

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