| | 农战: |
今为国者多无要。朝廷之言治也，纷纷焉务相易也。是以其君惛于说，其官乱于言，其民惰而不农。故其境内之民，皆化而好辩乐学，事商贾，为技艺，避农战，如此则亡国不远矣。国有事，则学民恶法，商民善化，技艺之民不用，故其国易破也。 |
| Agriculture and War: |
But now, those who run a state for the most part overlook what is essential, and the discussions at court, on government, are confused, and efforts are made to displace each other in them; thus the prince is dazed by talk, officials confused by words, and the people become lazy and will not farm. The result is that all the people within the territory change and become fond of sophistry, take pleasure in study, pursue trade, practise arts and crafts, and shun agriculture and war; and so in this manner (the ruin of the country) will not be far off. When the country has trouble, then because studious people hate law, and merchants are clever in bartering and artisans are useless, the state will be easily destroyed. |
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夫农者寡，而游食者众，故其国贫危。今夫螟螣蚵蠋春生秋死，一出而民数年乏食。今一人耕，而百人食之，此其为螟螣蚼蠋亦大矣。虽有诗书，乡一束，家一员，独无益于治也，非所以反之之术也。故先王反之于农战。故曰：百人农，一人居者，王；十人农，一人居者，强；半农半居者，危。 |
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Indeed, if farmers are few, and those who live idly on others are many, then the state will be poor and in a dangerous condition. Now, for example, if various kinds of caterpillars, which are born in spring and die in autumn, appear only once, the result is that the people have no food for many years. Now, if one man tills and a hundred live on him, it means that they are like a great visitation of caterpillars. Though there may be a bundle of the Odes and History in every hamlet and a copy in every family, yet it is useless for good government, and it is not a method whereby this condition of things may be reversed. Therefore the ancient kings made people turn back to agriculture and war. For this reason is it said: 'Where a hundred men farm and one is idle, the state will attain supremacy; where ten men farm and one is idle, the state will be strong; where half farms and half is idle, the state will be in peril. |
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故治国者欲民之农也。国不农，则与诸侯争权不能自持也，则众力不足也。故诸侯挠其弱，乘其衰，土地侵削而不振，则无及已。圣人知治国之要，故令民归心于农。归心于农，则民朴而可正也。纷纷，则不易使也；信，可以守战也。壹，则少诈而重居；壹，则可以赏罚进也；壹，则可以外用也。 |
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That is why those who govern the country well, wish the people to take to agriculture. If the country does not take to agriculture, then in its quarrels over authority with the various feudal lords, it will not be able to maintain itself, because the strength of the multitude will not be sufficient. Therefore the feudal lords vex its weakness and make use of its state of decadence; and if the territory is invaded and dismembered, without the country being stirred to action, it will be past saving. A sage knows what is essential in administrating a country, and so he induces the people to devote their attention to agriculture. If their attention is devoted to agriculture, then they will be simple, and being simple, they may be made correct. Being perplexed, it will be easy to direct them; being trustworthy, they may be used for defence and warfare. Being single-minded, opportunities of deceit will be few, and they will attach importance to their homes. Being single-minded, their careers may be made dependent on rewards and penalties; being single-minded, they may be used abroad. |
