《资治通鉴·汉纪·汉纪五十八》
可是，杜牧却认为： 荀在劝曹操攻取兖州时，把他比作高祖刘邦与光武帝刘秀；在官渡之战时不让曹操撤退回许都，则比作楚汉相争。等到大事已经完成，荀才想在汉代留下尽忠的声名。这就好比教小偷去挖墙破柜而不与小偷分赃，能说他不是小偷吗？ 臣认为，孔子说： 文胜质则史。 
而杜牧乃以为 彧之劝魏武取兗州则比之高、光，官渡不令还许则比之楚、汉，及事就功毕，乃欲邀名于汉代，譬之教盗穴墙发匮而不与同挈，得不为盗乎？ 
However, Du Mu believed that: when Xun persuaded Cao Cao to seize Yanzhou, he compared him to the founding emperor Liu Bang and Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty; when he prevented Cao Cao from retreating to Xuchang in the Battle of Guandu, he compared him to the conflict between Chu and Han. When the major events were accomplished, then Xun wanted to leave the reputation of loyalty in the Han Dynasty. This is like teaching a thief to dig walls and break cabinets but not sharing the loot with him. Can you say that he is not a thief? I think Confucius said: "When literature wins over essence, it becomes history."