The state may be small; its people may be few. Let the people have tenfold and one-houndredfold of utensils, but never make use of them. Let the people weigh death heavily and have no desires to move far away. Though there be boats and carriages, no one wille ride in them. Though there be armour and weapons, no one will exhibit them. Let the people return to tying knots and using them, relish their food, appreciate their clothes, secure their homes, happy with their customs. The neighbouring states will be so close that they can see each other, and hear the sounds of roosters and dogs. But the people will grow old and die, without having visited each other.
The Classic of the Way and the Natural Virtue by the Old Master” is written by Laozi. Here we can enjoy some Exemplarious translation.
道可道,非常道。名可名,非常名。无名,天地之始。 有名,万物之母。故常无,欲以观其妙;常有,欲以观其徼。此两者,同出而异名, 同谓之玄。玄之又玄,众妙之门。
三十辐共一毂,当其无,有车之用。埏埴以为器,当其无,有器之用。 凿户牖以为室,当其无,有室之用。故有之以为利,无之以为用。
致虚极,守静笃。万物并作,吾以观其复。各复归其根。归根曰静,是谓复命, 复命曰常,知常曰明。不知常,妄作,凶。知常,容。容乃公,公乃王,王乃天, 天乃道,道乃久,没身不殆。
有物混成,先天地生。寂兮寥兮,独立而不改,周行而不殆,可以为天地母。 吾不知其名,字之曰「道」。强为之名曰「大」。大曰逝,逝曰远,远曰反。
道生一,一生二,二生三,三生万物。万物负阴而抱阳,冲气以为和。
为者败之,执者失之。是以圣人无为,故无败,无执,故无失。 民之从事,常于几成而败之。慎终如始,则无败事。是以圣人欲不欲,不贵难得之货, 学不学,复众人之所过。以辅万物之自然,而不敢为。
人之生也柔弱,其死也坚强;万物、草木之生也柔脆,其死也枯槁。 故坚强者,死之徒;柔弱者,生之徒。是以兵强则不胜,木强则折。强大处下, 柔弱处上。
小国寡民。使有什佰之器而不用。使民重死而不远徙。 虽有舟舆,无所乘之。虽有甲兵,无所陈之。使人复结绳而用之。 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。