《宋史·列传·卷九十六》
祖禹自己认为幼失怙恃，身世孤单，每过年时亲戚宾客庆集，他却忧伤好像无所容身，闭门读书，从没有参预应酬请托。
祖禹自以既孤，每岁时亲宾庆集，惨怛若无所容，闭门读书，未尝预人事。
Zuoyu himself believed that he had lost his parents in his childhood and had a lonely life. Every year when relatives and guests gathered, he felt sad, as if he had no place to live, so he closed his door to study and never attended social gatherings or asked for favors.