第80章 · 原文
现代白话译文
使国家小，人民少。即使有各种器具也不使用；使人民重视死亡而不向远方迁徙。虽然有船只车辆，却没有乘坐的需要；虽然有武器装备，却没有陈列的机会。使人民回到结绳记事的状态。使人民饮食香甜，服饰美好，居住安适，习俗欢乐。邻国之间可以互相望见，鸡鸣狗叫的声音可以互相听到，但人民直到老死也不互相往来。
多版本对照
王弼注（魏晋）
国既小．民又寡．尚可使反古．况国大民众乎．故举小国而言也．言使民虽有什伯之器．而无所用．何患不足也．使民不用．惟身是宝．不贪货赂．故各安其居．重死而不远徙也．无所欲求.
河上公注（汉）
小国寡民者，小国，民少也。使有什伯之器而不用者，虽有什伯之器，无所用之也。
王夫之《老子衍》（明末清初）
夫天下亦如是而已矣。以「寡小」觀「寡小」，以強大觀彊大，以天下觀天下，人同天，天同道，道同自然，又安往而不適者哉？推而准之四海之廣：賢貴「安其居」，而賤不肖「不來」，則賢貴定；賤不肖「安其居」，而賢貴「不往」，則賤不肖和。反而求之一身之內：耳目「安其居」，而心思「不往」，則耳目全；心思「安其居」，而耳目「不來」，則心思正。「抱一」者，抱其一而不徹其不一，乃以「玄同」於一，而無將迎之患。
憨山德清《老子道德经解》（明）
此言聖人無心之恩，但施而不責報，此為當時計利者發也。然恩生於怨，怨生於恩。當時諸侯兩相搆怨，霸者主盟而為和之。大怨既和，而必責報。報之不至，而怨亦隨之，是有餘怨也。莊子云，賊莫大於德有心。故曰安可以為善。是以聖人無心之德，但施而不責報。故如貸之執左契，雖有而若無也。契，貸物之符券也。合同剖之，而有左右。貸者執右，物主執左，所以責其報也。有德司契，但與而不取，徒存虛契。無德司徹，不計彼之有無，必征其餘，如賦徹耳。徹，周之賦法。謂時至必取於民，而無一毫假借之意。然上責報而下計利，將謂與而不取，為失利也。殊不知失於人，而得於天。故曰天道無親，常與善人。且施而不取，我既善矣。人不與而天必與之，所謂自天佑之，吉無不利。豈常人所易知哉。
马王堆帛书异文（西汉）
小邦寡民，使有十百人之器而勿用，使民重死而远徙。
郭店楚简异文（战国）
此章缺
English Translations / 英文译本
A small state with few people: Let there be tools for a hundred or ten, but not use them. Let people value death and not travel far. Let there be boats and carriages but no one rides them. Let there be armor and weapons but no one displays them. Let people return to knotting ropes and using them. Let food be sweet, clothes beautiful, home secure, customs happy. Neighboring states look at each other, hear chickens and dogs, but people grow old and die without visiting.
A small state with few people: Let there be tools for a hundred or ten, but not use them. Let people value death and not travel far. Let there be boats and carriages but no one rides them. Let there be armor and weapons but no one displays them. Let people return to knotting ropes and using them. Let food be sweet, clothes beautiful, home secure, customs happy. Neighboring states look at each other, hear chickens and dogs, but people grow old and die without visiting.
A small state with few people: Let there be tools for a hundred or ten, but not use them. Let people value death and not travel far. Let there be boats and carriages but no one rides them. Let there be armor and weapons but no one displays them. Let people return to knotting ropes and using them. Let food be sweet, clothes beautiful, home secure, customs happy. Neighboring states look at each other, hear chickens and dogs, but people grow old and die without visiting.