Chapter 80 · The Small State, Content

Tao Te Ching (Legge, 1891) · chapter title added by Learn the Dao

In a little state with a small population, 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; I would make the people, while looking on death as a grievous thing, yet not remove elsewhere (to avoid it). Though they had boats and carriages, they should have no occasion to ride in them; though they had buff coats and sharp weapons, they should have no occasion to don or use them. I would make the people return to the use of knotted cords (instead of the written characters). They should think their (coarse) food sweet; their (plain) clothes beautiful; their (poor) dwellings places of rest; and their common (simple) ways sources of enjoyment. 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, but I would make the people to old age, even to death, not have any intercourse with it.

A Small Place, Not Many People

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

Picture a small place, not many people. They've got plenty of tools and never bother using most of them. They take dying seriously, so they don't go wandering far. Boats and carts sit unused - nowhere they need to be. Weapons sit in the rack - no occasion to bring them out. People go back to keeping count with knots in a string. The food tastes good, the clothes feel right, home is comfortable, the customs make people happy. The next village is close enough to see, close enough to hear their roosters and dogs - and folks live out their whole lives and never feel the itch to go check it out. Honestly, some days that sounds about right to me.

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In a little state with — missed a small population

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