An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 179 words)
80. 1. n 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.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
The more choices available to us, the less satisfied we become with any single choice, creating perpetual dissatisfaction disguised as opportunity.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to spot when too many choices are draining your satisfaction with what you have.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you feel restless or dissatisfied—ask yourself if you're unhappy with what you have or just distracted by what you could have.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"They should think their coarse food sweet; their plain clothes beautiful; their poor dwellings places of rest"
Context: Describing how people in his ideal community would view their simple possessions
This shows that happiness isn't about having fancy things, but about your attitude toward what you have. When you're not constantly comparing or wanting more, basic things become genuinely satisfying.
In Today's Words:
People would actually enjoy their simple meals, feel good in regular clothes, and love coming home to their basic apartments.
"Though there were individuals with the abilities of ten or a hundred men, there should be no employment of them"
Context: Explaining how talented people would exist but not be pushed to compete or show off
This challenges our belief that we must always use every skill to its maximum potential. Sometimes having abilities but not feeling pressured to prove them creates more peace for everyone.
In Today's Words:
Even if some people were incredibly talented, they wouldn't feel pressure to constantly perform or outshine others.
"I would make the people return to the use of knotted cords instead of the written characters"
Context: Describing his preference for simpler forms of communication and record-keeping
This isn't about being backwards, but about questioning whether more complex systems always make life better. Sometimes simpler tools create less stress and more genuine connection.
In Today's Words:
I'd have people go back to simpler ways of keeping track of things instead of complicated systems.
"There should be a neighbouring state within sight... but I would make the people to old age, even to death, not have any intercourse with it"
Context: Describing how his ideal community would relate to nearby communities
This isn't about isolation, but about being so content with your own life that you don't feel the need to constantly check what others are doing. It prevents the comparison that steals joy.
In Today's Words:
People could see their neighbors living differently, but they'd be so happy with their own lives they wouldn't feel the need to visit or compare.
Thematic Threads
Contentment
In This Chapter
People finding genuine satisfaction in simple pleasures—plain food tasting delicious, basic clothes feeling beautiful, modest homes providing perfect comfort
Development
Introduced here as the foundation of Taoist wisdom
In Your Life:
You might notice this when you feel happiest during simple moments—a good cup of coffee, a comfortable bed, a genuine conversation.
Choice
In This Chapter
Having boats and carriages but choosing to walk, possessing advanced tools but preferring simple ones, being able to travel but staying home
Development
Introduced here as conscious limitation
In Your Life:
You experience this when you feel overwhelmed by options—too many streaming shows, career paths, or weekend plans—and crave simplicity.
Community
In This Chapter
Neighbors close enough to hear each other but content enough never to visit, suggesting satisfaction within one's own circle
Development
Introduced here as natural boundaries
In Your Life:
You see this in the tension between staying connected to your community versus constantly seeking new social experiences or comparisons.
Progress
In This Chapter
Choosing knotted ropes over writing, walking over vehicles—deliberately selecting simpler technologies despite having access to advanced ones
Development
Introduced here as questioning advancement
In Your Life:
You encounter this when you wonder if the latest upgrade, app, or innovation actually makes your life better or just more complicated.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What kind of community does Lao Tzu describe, and how do the people in it relate to their possessions and opportunities?
analysis • surface - 2
Why would people who have boats and cars choose to walk everywhere instead? What does this suggest about the relationship between having options and using them?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this pattern of 'too many choices leading to dissatisfaction' in your own life or community?
application • medium - 4
If you had to choose three areas of your life to simplify by reducing options, which would they be and how would you go about it?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about the difference between progress and satisfaction? Can you have both, or do you have to choose?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Choice Overload
List three areas where you have too many options that stress you out rather than help you. For each area, identify what having fewer choices might look like and what you might gain by limiting your options. Think about decisions you revisit constantly or areas where you spend mental energy comparing alternatives.
Consider:
- •Notice the difference between choices that energize you versus those that drain you
- •Consider how much time you spend researching options versus enjoying what you already have
- •Think about whether your dissatisfaction comes from what you lack or from awareness of other possibilities
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you were happiest with very few options. What made that simplicity satisfying? How could you recreate that feeling in one area of your current life?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 81: The Paradox of True Wealth
In the final chapter, Lao Tzu wraps up his teachings with a profound distinction between sincere words and fine words, and between true knowledge and mere learning. He'll reveal why the wisest people often say the least.
