《资治通鉴·周纪·周纪一》
现在晋国的三家大夫欺凌蔑视国君，瓜分了晋国，作为天子的周王不能派兵征讨，反而对他们加封赐爵，让他们列位于诸侯国君之中，这样做就使周王朝仅有的一点名分不能再守定而全部放弃了。
今晋大夫暴蔑其君，剖分晋国，天子既不能讨，又宠秩之，使列于诸侯，是区区之名分复不能守而并弃之也。
Now, the Three Jin High Officials bullied and humiliated their duke and divided Jin. The King of Zhou, as the emperor, should have sent troops to punish them, but instead, gave them higher titles and allowed them to rank among the feudal lords. By doing so, the House of Zhou completely abandoned the only bit of reputation and position it had left.