In the Daodejing, the character 德 (dé) literally means virtue, though it can also be translated as moral power, power, or excellence. Here is a collection of quotations on the subject of virtue from the text.
生之蓄之，生而不有，為而不恃，長而不宰，是謂玄德。
Bearing and nurturing;
Bearing without possessing;
Acting without taking credit;
Leading without dominating.
This is called mysterious virtue.
Daodejing
Chapter 10
