《资治通鉴·唐纪·唐纪十一》
太宗说： 远方民族畏惧皇威羡慕圣德，所以前来归服，如果说不如以前，则何以致此？ 
上曰： 远方畏威慕德，故来服；若其不逮，何以致之？ 
Emperor Taizong said, "The ethnic groups in the distance are afraid of my authority and admire my moral qualities, so they come to submit. If you say it is not as good as before, how could this be possible?" 