《新唐书·本纪·卷一·高祖》
唐公在北周、隋朝之际，家世虽已高贵了，然而并没有所谓积聚功德累集仁爱的渐进迹象；而高祖的兴起，与顺应时势崛起的人士有什么两样呢？
唐在周、隋之际，世虽贵矣，然乌有所谓积功累仁之渐，而高祖之兴，亦何异因时而特起者欤？
Duke Tang, between the Northern Zhou and the Sui dynasties, although his family was already noble, there was no gradual sign of accumulating virtue and gathering benevolence; and what was the rise of Gaozu like when compared to those who rose up with the trend of the times?