《国语·鲁语·展禽论祭爰居非政之宜》
 圣王制定祭祀礼节的原则是：凡是以完善的法规治理人民的就祭祀他；凡是为国事操劳，至死不懈的就祭祀他；凡是有安定国家的功劳的就祭祀他；凡是抵御重大灾祸的就祭祀他。不属这几类的，不能列入祭祀的范围。
 夫圣王之制祀也，法施于民则祀之，以死勤事则祀之，以劳定国则祀之，能御大灾则祀之，能扞大患则祀之。
The principles for the sage-kings to develop sacrificial rituals are: people who govern the common people with complete rules and regulations shall be sacrificed; people who work hard for the state affairs and never give up until they die shall be sacrificed; people who make contributions to stabilizing the country shall be sacrificed; people who resist great disasters shall be sacrificed. People who do not belong to these categories shall not be included in the range of sacrifices.