《管子·任法》
君主离开了公法而去听信私说，那么，群臣和百姓都将创立自己的一套学说和主张，在国内到处宣扬；还将勾结徒党，来建立私人势力；还将请托保举，来扰乱国家公法；还将用尽心机，来骗取君主的宠信。
上舍公法而听私说，故群臣百姓皆设私立方以教于国，群党比周以立其私，请谒任举以乱公法，人用其心以幸于上。
When a ruler abandons the law and listens to private opinions, then his ministers and the people will all come up with their own theories and agendas and spread them throughout the country. They will also form cliques to establish their own private powers. They will make recommendations and ask for favors to disrupt the country's laws. They will use every trick they can to win the ruler's favor.