“小国寡民”在物欲横流的时代备受诟病,一度被批判为反文明反历史的复古落后思想。笔者认为小国寡民并不是要回归消极,而是悬设一个理想,以之为标准,凸显现实社会的种种弊病,表达老子对无欲、无争、少私寡欲、安宁清静社会的向往。不仅不是后退的思想,反而在弃绝战争、自然生态、人际关系等方面对现实具有重要意义。 “Little countrymen and widows” were much criticized in the time of materialism and were once criticized as retro-backward thinking of anti-civilization and anti-history. The author believes that the small countrymen and the minorities do not want to return to negativity. Instead, they want to set an ideal as the standard to highlight the shortcomings of the real society and to express their longing for the quiet, quiet and selfless desire for peace and quiet. Not only is not the thought of retrogressing, but it is of great significance to the reality in rejecting war, natural ecology and interpersonal relations.