《史记·十二本纪·秦始皇本纪》
为政强硬果决，暴戾苛细，事情都依法决断，刻薄严峻，没有仁爱恩德，没有温情道义，这样才符合五德演变的原则。
刚毅戾深，事皆决於法，刻削毋仁恩和义，然後合五德之数。
To govern with strength and decisiveness, to be violent and harsh, all matters are decided according to the law, brutal and severe, without benevolence, kindness, and warmth. This is the principle of the evolution of the five virtues.