道生之，德畜之，物形之，势成之。是以万物莫不尊道而贵德。道之尊，德之贵，夫莫之命而常自然。故道生之，德畜之；长之育之；成之熟之；养之覆之。生而不有，為而不恃，长而不宰。是谓玄德。

Te Ching Chapter Fifty-one

Tao gives birth to all things.

And Te (virtue) nurtures them.

Matter shapes them.

The natural environment matures them.

Therefore, all things abide by Tao and honor Te.

Although Tao deserves reverence and Te deserves honor,

They are not demanded by decree,

But is a result of the Nature Way.

Hence, Tao gives life to all beings and Te nurtures, grows, fosters, develops, matures, supports, and protects them.

Tao gives birth to life and yet claims no possession.

It gives support without holding on to the merit.

It matures them but does not take control of.

This is called the Mystic Te.