《荀子·君道》
所以君主一定要有了足可胜任的卿相辅佐，然后才行；他们的道德声望要足可用来安抚百姓、他们的智慧心计要足可用来应付千变万化，然后才行。这种人叫做治国的工具。
故人主必将有卿相辅佐足任者，然后可。其德音足以填抚百姓，其知虑足以应待万变，然后可；夫是之谓国具。
Therefore, a monarch must have competent vassals and ministers to support them before acting; their moral reputation must be sufficient to comfort the people, their intelligence and resourcefulness must be sufficient to handle all changes, before they act. Such a person is called an instrument for governing the state.