A small country with few people makes the people need it without using it, and makes the people die again without moving far away. Although there is a boat, there is nothing to sit on. Although there are soldiers, there is nothing to show off.

Let people use it again. Be willing to eat, wear, live and enjoy. When neighboring countries confront each other, the voices of chickens and dogs are endless, and the people are miserable until they die.

Translation:

To govern a country with a small land and a large population, we must first cherish the people so that some people will not be used as slaves or armed to fight. In this case, even if there are various instruments, they will not be used.

Let ordinary people pay attention to their own lives, and they will not leave their homes and go far away. Even if there is a boat and a car, there is no place to sit, because no one wants to take refuge abroad. Even if there are armor and weapons, there is no place to take them from Chen Fang.

Because no one uses it to fight and consume it. Let the people restore their innocent and kind nature. The country is rich and strong, and it has reached its peak. Everyone is indifferent, so that the people have sweet and delicious food, gorgeous clothes, comfortable accommodation and happy customs. Even though the people of the two countries get along very closely and have close contacts, there has never been war and friction.

Extended data:

Classic reading:

For the explanation of "small country with few people" (Chapter 80), modern scholars generally interpret Laozi's "small country with few people" as the real meaning, that is, a small country with few people. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, Duke He didn't think so. His annotation said: "Although a saint rules a big country, he still thinks it is small and shows frugality. Although there are many people, they are still few and dare not work. " In other words, "a small country with few people" doesn't really mean it, but it is small and few, but there are actually many people in the country.

There are many different interpretations of the so-called "tools of scholars". He divided the article into two sentences, which read "Let people have what they want and let people use their tools instead of using them". Its annotation is: "Let the people have their own Qushibo, and the nobles will not commit crimes against each other." "This device is called the farmer device. If you don't use it, don't recruit to take the people's good. " People think that Laozi advocates that rulers should govern the country quietly and not disturb the people.

References:

Small country and few people Baidu encyclopedia