《周书·列传·卷四十九》
何况时代并非秦、汉，志好又超过秦皇、汉武，违背天道以求取功劳，竭尽民力来实现欲望，覆灭的祸害，转眼就到。
况乎时非秦、汉，志甚嬴、刘，违天道以求其功，殚民力而从所欲，颠坠之衅，固不旋踵。
Moreover, this is a different age from the times of Ts'in and Han, and the ambition of the emperor is greater than that of the First Emperor and the martial emperor. If, in opposition to the ways of Heaven, he seek for merit, and, in opposition to the strength of the people, aim at carrying out his wishes, the calamity of his ruin will be at hand.