《南史·列传·卷五十》
吏部尚书王瞻曾经等候任窻，遇到刘之遴在座，任窻对王瞻说： 这是南阳刘之遴，学优而未仕，您这明鉴之士应该加以任用。 
吏部尚书王瞻尝候任昉，遇之遴在坐，昉谓瞻曰： 此南阳刘之遴，学优未仕，水镜所宜甄擢。 
Wang Zhan, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, once waited for Ren Yan and met Liu Zhilin. Ren Yan said to Wang Zhan: This is Liu Zhilin from Nanyang. He is learned but has not yet been an official. You are a wise man and should hire him.