《史记·三十世家·越王勾践世家》
在楚威王的时候，越国攻打齐国，齐威王派人劝说越王说： 越国如果不攻打楚国，从大处说不能称王，从小处说不能称霸。
当楚威王之时，越北伐齐，齐威王使人说越王曰： 越不伐楚，大不王，小不伯。
During the time of King Wei of Chu, the state of Yue attacked Qi. King Wei of Qi sent someone to advise King Yue and said: If the state of Yue doesn't attack Chu, in the grand scheme of things it will not be able to become the supreme ruler, and on a smaller scale it will not be able to be an overlord.