152,众民、强兵、广地、富国之必生于粟也

管子语录 汉英双解

【原文】民事农则田垦,田垦则粟多,粟多则国富。国富者兵强,兵强者战胜,战胜者地广。是以先王知众民、强兵、广地、富国之必生于粟也。《治国》

【汉解】人民从事农业则土地得到开垦,土地开垦则粮食增加,粮食增加则国家富裕,国富则兵力可以强大,兵强则战争可以取胜,战胜则土地也就广阔了。因此,先代圣王懂得人口多、兵力强、国土广和国家富都一定来源于粮食。

【英译】When people serve in agriculture, fields will be well cultivated. If fields are well cultivated, grain will become plentiful. If grain is plentiful, the state will prosper. If the state prospers, its armed forces will be strong. If the armed forces are strong, they will be victorious in battle. If they are victorious in battle, the state’s territory will expand. For this reason the former kings knew that having a large population, strong armed forces, extensive territory, and a prosperous state were certain to depend on grain.