生而不有，为而不恃，长而不宰，是谓玄德。
《老子》第51章
To give birth to all things but not to take possession of them, to raise them but not to vaunt this as its merit ，and to be their sovereign but not to control them. These are called the profound De.
[注释]
生而不有:道生养万物而不将万物据为已有。为而不恃:帮助万物而不依赖它们。为，帮助。长而不宰:成就万物却不做它们的主宰。宰，主宰者。玄德:高尚的品德。玄，高深，高尚。《庄子.天地》:“其合缗缗，若愚若昏，是谓玄德，同乎大顺。”
[译文]
道生养了万物却不将万物据为已有，抚育了万物却不居功恃能，成就了万物而不做它们的主宰，这才是最高尚的品德。