80
AH, for a small country with a small population!
Though there are
highly efficient mechanical
contrivances, the people have no use for
them. Let them
mind death and refrain from migrating to distant
places.
Boats and carriages, weapons and armour there may still
be,
but there are no occasions for using or displaying
them. Let the people
revert to communication by
knotting cords. See to it that they are
contented with
their food, pleased with their clothing, satisfied
with
their houses, and inured to their simple ways of living.
Though
there may be another country in the
neighbourhood so close that they
are within sight of
each other and the crowing of cocks and barking of
dogs
in one place can be heard in the other, yet there is no
traffic
between them, and throughout their lives the two
peoples have nothing
to do with each other.
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