《资治通鉴·汉纪·汉纪六》
君主的尊贵，如同大堂，群臣好像堂下的台阶，百姓如同平地。
人主之尊譬如堂，群臣如陛，众庶如地。
The ruler's honor is like that of a grand hall, and the ministers are like the steps beneath the hall, and the people are like the level ground.