《孔子家语·始诛》
当今之世却不是这样，教化紊乱，刑法繁多，使民众迷惑而随时会陷入牢狱。官吏又用繁多的刑律来控制约束，所以刑罚越繁盗贼越多。
今世则不然，乱其教，繁其刑，使民迷惑而陷焉，又从而制之，故刑弥繁而盗不胜也。
But in the present world, it is not like this. Moral teachings are in disarray, and the laws are complex and繁多, causing the people to be confused and at risk of being thrown into prison at any time. The officials restrain and control the people with the many laws, so the more laws there are, the more thieves there are.