《魏书·列传·卷十九》
嗟叹说： 元俨判定刑罚和奖赏，极力使自己不做恶声厉色，然而作为臣子的竭尽忠诚与勇猛果决，比不上于烈。
叹曰： 元俨决断威恩，深自不恶，然而为臣尽忠猛决，不如烈也。
He sighed and said: Yuan Yan decided the sentences and rewards, and tried his best not to be harsh or angry. However, his loyalty and decisive courage as a minister could not compare to Yu Lie.