Line by Line - Verse 2, Line 11

they grow, and there is no claim made for their ownership;
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Creating, yet not.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

They create but do not possess
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

They don't own much, but they use whatever's at hand.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

With this line -- unlike the previous one -- Legge now falls in line with Lin and Hogan as ascribing these characteristics to the sage. Feng and English continue to present these principles as more general, in nature. Personally, I favor the more general tone simply because I think it is apt advice for anyone and everyone, not just those individual who are designated as sages!

However one wishes to construe it, I like what John Lash has to say in reference to this line.

The Tao creates everything that exists, but it does not possess them. It makes no claim of ownership.

In other words, Tao creates with no strings attached!

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