《汉书·传·王莽传中》
宣读策书完毕，王莽亲自握着孺子的手，流着眼泪叹息，说道： 从前周公代理王位，最后能够把明君的权力归还周成王，现在我偏偏迫于上天的威严命令，不能够如自己的心意！ 
读策毕，莽亲执孺子手，流涕歔欷，曰： 昔周公摄位，终得复子明辟，今予独迫皇天威命，不得如意！ 
Having finished reading the edict, Wang Mang personally held the young Emperor's hand, sighed with tears, and said: In the past, Duke of Zhou acted as regent and was able to return the power of the ruler to Emperor Cheng of Zhou. Now I am forced by the constraints of Heaven's mandate and cannot act according to my own will!