《庄子·外篇·秋水》
当年唐尧、虞舜禅让而称帝，宰相子之与燕王哙禅让而燕国几乎灭亡;商汤、周武王都争夺天下而成为帝王，白公胜争夺王位却遭致杀身。
昔者尧、舜让而帝，之、哙让而绝；汤、武争而王，白公争而灭。
In ancient times, Tang Yao and Yu Shun abdicated the throne and became emperors, and the Prime Minister, Zi Zhi, and King Yan Kuai abdicated the throne and Yan was almost destroyed. Shang Tang and King Wu Zhou both fought for supremacy and became emperors, but Bai Gongsheng was killed in the fight for the throne.