If a country is governed wisely,

its inhabitants will be content.

They enjoy the labor of their hands

and do not waste time inventing

labor-saving machines.

Since they dearly love their homes,

they are not interested in travel.

There may be a few wagons and boats,

but these do not go anywhere.

There may be an arsenal of weapons,

but nobody ever uses them.

People enjoy their food,

take pleasure in being with their families,

spend weekends working in their gardens,

delight in the doings of the neighborhood.

And even though the next country is so close

that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking,

they are content to die of old age

without ever having gone to see it.

八十 | lxxx