《管子·君臣下》
所以说，施行德政的权力被侵削，君主就危险了；论功行赏的权力被侵削，有功的人就危险了；发令的权力被侵削，官吏就危险；行刑的权力被侵削，百姓就危险。
故曰：德侵则君危，论侵则有功者危，令侵则官危，刑侵则百姓危。
Therefore, when the power of exercising virtue is encroached upon, the prince will be in peril; when the power of conferring rewards is encroached upon, the meritorious will be in peril; when the power of wielding the law is encroached upon, the officials will be in peril; and when the power of inflicting punishments is encroached upon, the people will be in peril.