Tao gives them life, virtues nurture them, firmness shapes them, tende

養德 · Yǎng Dé

Classical Chinese Text

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，亭之毒之，养之覆之。
生而不有，为而不恃，长而不宰，是谓玄德。

Translation & Meaning

Tao gives them life, virtues nurture them, firmness shapes them, tendencies complete them. This is why not one of ten thousand things does not respect Tao and cherish virtues.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
  • 生 (shēng): give birth to / arise
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 德 (dé): Intrinsic Virtue / inner power
  • 畜 (chù): classical character (chù)
  • 物 (wù): things / phenomena / forms
  • 形 (xíng): contrast / appearance
  • 势 (shì): classical character (shì)
  • 成 (chéng): complete / fulfill
  • 是 (shì): this / therefore
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 万 (wàn): ten thousand / myriad / all
  • 莫 (mò): classical character (mò)
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 尊 (zūn): classical character (zūn)
  • 而 (ér): yet / and / but
  • 贵 (guì): prize / cherish / valuable
  • 夫 (fū): for / indeed / now
  • 命 (mìng): classical character (mìng)
  • 常 (cháng): constant / dynamic invariable
  • 自 (zì): classical character (zì)
  • 然 (rán): classical character (rán)
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 长 (cháng): long / enduring / grow
  • 育 (yù): classical character (yù)
  • 亭 (tíng): classical character (tíng)
  • 毒 (dú): classical character (dú)
  • 养 (yǎng): classical character (yǎng)
  • 覆 (fù): classical character (fù)
  • 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
  • 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
  • 恃 (shì): classical character (shì)
  • 宰 (zǎi): classical character (zǎi)
  • 谓 (wèi): called / named / designated
  • 玄 (xuán): mystery / fathomless depth