Utopia


 

Eighty
[This chapter follows on sixty six]

 Let the states be small and the 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 use them;
Though they might have armor and weapons,
no one will display them;
Have the people return to the 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 thir homes.
Neighboring sates might overlook one another,
And the sound of chickens and dogs might be overheard,
Yet the people will arrive at old age and death
with no comings and goings between them.

Corrected with the Mawangtui texts

The sage

Eighty-one
[This chapter comes before sixty seven]

Sincere words are not showy.
showy words are not sincere.
Those who know are not "widely learned"
Those who are "widely learned" do not know.
The good do not have a lot.
Those with a lot are not good.


The sage accumulates nothing.
Having used what he had for others,
He has even more.
Having given what he had to others,
What he has is even greater.
Therefore, the way of Heaven
is to benefit and not te cause any harm;
The way of Man is to act on behalf of others
And not to compete with them.

Corrected with the Mawangtui texts