《明史·志·卷七十》
假使现在不行刑，年复一年，犯人充满了监狱，既浪费关押的费用，又违背了国家大典，与政治的主旨也大不相合。 
今不行刑，年复一年，充满囹圄，既费关防，又乖国典，其于政体又大谬也。 
If the sentence is not carried out now, the prisoners will fill the prisons year after year, wasting money on their maintenance and violating the laws of the country, and it will be totally at odds with the main purpose of politics.