《宋书·列传·卷七十四》
又心想自己的才略，在当时确实没有第二个人赶得上，先前听说刘邵杀掉文帝，便顿生野心，因为刘义宣能力平庸，容易挟制，想表面上推戴他，暗中则自己掌权。
自谓人才足为一世英杰，始闻国祸，便有异图，以义宣凡暗，易可制勒，欲外相推奉，以成其志。
He also thought to himself that his talent and strategy currently had no rivals. He had heard that Liu Shao had murdered Emperor Wen, and he was filled with ambition. Liu Yixuan was mediocre and easy to control. He thought to superficially support Liu Yixuan while secretly holding power himself.