《文心雕龙·史传》
另外史官还必须阅读历史，研究残存的书卷。史官需要了解古代历史，确立当代书写的立意和规范，选择合适的言语，依靠经书作为准则。对君王是否劝告或者警示，应当以圣贤的思想作为依照。
阅石室，启金匮，裂帛，检残竹，欲其博练于稽古也。是立义选言，宜依经以树则；劝戒与夺，必附圣以居宗。
In addition, the historian must be well-versed in history and in the study of surviving texts. He needs to be aware of ancient events, set his own writing in the context of the existing genre of historical writing, select language that is appropriate and rely on the classics as his guide. Whether to offer praise or censure to the monarch must be based on the ideas of the sages.