《韩非子·二柄》
燕王子哙喜爱贤才准备将王位让贤，所以子之表面上不接受君位。所以君主流露出厌恶情绪的，群臣就会将这方面的事情掩盖起来；君主流露出喜好情绪的，臣下就会假称自己有这方面的才能。君主的欲望表现出来，群臣就会借此表现自己的情态。
故越王好勇而民多轻死；楚灵王好细腰而国中多饿人；齐桓公妒外而好内，故竖刁自宫以治内；桓公好味，易牙蒸其子首而进之；燕子哙好贤，故子之明不受国。故君见恶，则群臣匿端；君见好，则群臣诬能。人主欲见，则群臣之情态得其资矣。
Now Zi Zhai of Yen was fond of men of worth, and wanted to resign his dukedom in favour of a worthy; and on this account Zi Sih declined in appearance to accept the dignity. Hence, when a sovereign shows his dislike, the people hide from him the things which he dislikes; and when he shows his liking, they pretend to him that they are such as he likes. According to what the sovereign desires, so the people present themselves before him.