--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let the country be small, and the…" description: "\"Let the country be small, and the inhabitants few.\" — Laozi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/laozi-147_country_let-the-country-be-small-and-the-inhabit_3185884.jpg" --- # Let the country be small, and the inhabitants few. ![“Let the country be small, and the inhabitants few.” quote by Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/laozi-147_country_let-the-country-be-small-and-the-inhabit_3185884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/laozi-147_country_let-the-country-be-small-and-the-inhabit_3185884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/laozi-147_country_let-the-country-be-small-and-the-inhabit_3185884.jpg) > “Let the country be small, and the inhabitants few.” [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates a minimalist society where fewer people and resources lead to harmony and simplicity. **In simple terms:** Small societies are easier to manage. Key Takeaway Embrace simplicity and limit growth. Themes minimalism society harmony Mood contemplative philosophical Type wisdom reflective When to use this quote - urban planning - environmental policy - community building - personal lifestyle choices Key Concepts Taoism population resource management Questions to Reflect On - Is a smaller population always better? - How does simplicity affect prosperity? A Different Perspective May hinder economic development and cultural exchange. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Country Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country-small-761604/) [Inhabitants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inhabitants/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Let Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-country-1028138/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small/) [Small Inhabitants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-inhabitants-5856893/) [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) ## Related quotes > [If a great country yields to a small country, it will conquer the small country. If a small country yields to a great country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-a-great-country-yields-to-a-small-country-it-will-conquer-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The small is easy to scatter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-small-is-easy-to-scatter/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The biggest in the world is small in its beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-biggest-in-the-world-is-small-in-its-beginning/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [I'll take you up and down these hollers and hills.. let me show you how Country feels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany/i-ll-take-you-up-and-down-these-hollers-and-hills-let-me-show-you-how/) [Brittany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany/) > [Let my country die for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/let-my-country-die-for-me/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Westminster has let the whole country down for many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cummings/westminster-has-let-the-whole-country-down-for-many-years/) [Dominic Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cummings/) > [An author's first duty is to let down his country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-behan/an-author-s-first-duty-is-to-let-down-his-country/) [Brendan Behan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-behan/) > [Sometimes, you just let the country have its way, and you don't try to determine the shape of the country. You sort of modestly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/sometimes-you-just-let-the-country-have-its-way-and-you-don-t-try-to/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I would die for my country, but I could never let my country die for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-kinnock/i-would-die-for-my-country-but-i-could-never-let-my-country-die-for-me/) [Neil Kinnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-kinnock/) > [You must completely dedicate yourselves to it. To do less will be to let down your country, your state, your parents, your teachers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/you-must-completely-dedicate-yourselves-to-it-to-do-less-will-be-to/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [It's one thing to be writing in South or Latin America, where, except for Brazil, every country, however small and hard to find on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/it-s-one-thing-to-be-writing-in-south-or-latin-america-where-except/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [And what most people don't understand is the bulk of business in this country is small business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonso-jackson/and-what-most-people-don-t-understand-is-the-bulk-of-business-in-this/) [Alphonso Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonso-jackson/) > [Every child in every country in every small town should know who I am. There are a handful of people who have achieved that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-shroff/every-child-in-every-country-in-every-small-town-should-know-who-i-am/) [Tiger Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-shroff/) > [I have been to beaches in many parts of the world, but Maldives is amazing. The country is very small, people are simple, each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milind-soman/i-have-been-to-beaches-in-many-parts-of-the-world-but-maldives-is/) [Milind Soman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milind-soman/) > [Indian country is small, word gets around about how people conduct themselves when they come into your community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-gladstone/indian-country-is-small-word-gets-around-about-how-people-conduct/) [Lily Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-gladstone/) ## More by Laozi > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In lightness the root is lost. In haste the ruler is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-lightness-the-root-is-lost-in-haste-the-ruler-is-lost/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [If the sage wants to stand above people, he must speak to them from below. If he wants to lead people, he must follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/if-the-sage-wants-to-stand-above-people-he-must-speak-to-them-from/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Goodie-goodies are the thieves of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/goodie-goodies-are-the-thieves-of-virtue/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He that humbles himself shall be preserved entire. He that bends shall be made straight. He that is empty shall be filled. He that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-that-humbles-himself-shall-be-preserved-entire-he-that-bends-shall/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Way of the Sage is to act but not to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-way-of-the-sage-is-to-act-but-not-to-compete/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Do nondoing, strive for nonstriving, savor the flavorless, regard the small as important, make much of little, repay enmity with virtue; plan for difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/do-nondoing-strive-for-nonstriving-savor-the-flavorless-regard-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Without looking through the window, you can see Heaven's Way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/without-looking-through-the-window-you-can-see-heaven-s-way/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-dissolve-your-ego-can-you-abandon-the-idea-of-self-and-other/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What's the difference between beautiful and ugly?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-s-the-difference-between-beautiful-and-ugly/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In stillness the muddied water returns to clarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-stillness-the-muddied-water-returns-to-clarity/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [He (the sage) is good to those who are good. He is also good to those who are not good. That is the virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-the-sage-is-good-to-those-who-are-good-he-is-also-good-to-those/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [There is a thing inherent and natural which existed before heaven and earth. Motionless and fathomless, It stands alone and never changes; It pervades…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/there-is-a-thing-inherent-and-natural-which-existed-before-heaven-and/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? What is a bad man but a good man's job? If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-is-a-good-man-but-a-bad-man-s-teacher-what-is-a-bad-man-but-a/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Explore all 1,140 Laozi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) [Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let the country be small, and the inhabitants few.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laozi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/let-the-country-be-small-and-the-inhabitants-few/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Country" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/let-the-country-be-small-and-the-inhabitants-few/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/laozi-147_country_let-the-country-be-small-and-the-inhabit_3185884.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/laozi-147_country_let-the-country-be-small-and-the-inhabit_3185884.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/laozi-147_country_let-the-country-be-small-and-the-inhabit_3185884.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let the country be small, and the inhabitants few.” — Laozi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Laozi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let the country be small, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/let-the-country-be-small-and-the-inhabitants-few/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/let-the-country-be-small-and-the-inhabitants-few/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```