《汉书·志·五行志下之上》
刘向以为从前这个时候，齐桓、晋文二霸与鲁厘公贤君刚刚死亡，周襄王失掉为君之道，楚穆王杀了他的父亲成王，诸侯都不正派，在下阴谋争权，上天警戒说，如果臣下强盛将常常为害。
刘向以为，先是时，齐桓、晋文、鲁釐二伯贤君新没，周襄王失道，楚穆王杀父，诸侯皆不肖，权倾天下，天戒若曰，臣下强盛者将动为害。
Liu Xiang thought that at that time, Qi Huan and Jin Wen, the two hegemons, and Lu Ligong, the virtuous monarch, had just died. King Xiang of Zhou had lost his way as a monarch. King Mu of Chu had killed his father, King Cheng, and the princes were not righteous. The lower ones were plotting for power, and the heaven was warning that if the ministers were strong, they would often do harm.