《史记·十表·秦楚之际月表》
过去虞、夏的兴起，开创帝业的君主们都是积累善行和功绩好几十年，他们的功德恩泽百姓，他们在执行政事的时候都接受了上天的考验，然后才正式登上帝位。商汤和周武王之所以能称王，是由于从他们的祖先契和后稷开始，就修行仁义长达十几代。
秦既称帝，患兵革不休，以有诸侯也，于是无尺土之封，堕坏名城，销锋镝，锄豪桀，维万世之安。然王迹之兴，起于闾巷，合从讨伐，轶于三代。
In the past, when Yu and Xia emerged, the monarchs who established their imperial dynasties had accumulated good deeds and achievements for decades. Their virtues and graces benefited the people, and when they carried out their political affairs, they were all tested by the heavens before they officially ascended to the throne. The reason why King Tang of Shang and King Wu of Zhou were able to ascend to the throne was that from their ancestors Qi and Houji, they had practiced benevolence and righteousness for dozens of generations.