Chapter Chapter 80 · Chapter 80

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80. 1. 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).

2. 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.

3. I would make the people return to the use of knotted cords (instead

of the written characters).

4. 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.

5. 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.