《明史·列传·卷六十九》
国家设置文渊阁，命令学士在此任职，的确是想让学士为国家谋划政事，讲经论史，培养治政的根本，纠正过失，并非要其阿谀奉承，唯命是从。
国家设文渊阁，命学士居之，诚欲其谟谋政事，讲论经史，培养本原，匡弼阙失，非欲其阿谀顺旨，惟言莫违也。
By setting up the Wen-Yuan Pavilion and ordering academicians to serve there, the state truly aimed to have academicians help it plan state affairs, explain classics and discourse upon history, to develop fundamental principles of administration, and to correct mistakes, not to have them flatter and blindly obey. 