《礼记·檀弓上》
伯子为仲子打掩护说： 仲子也不过是沿袭古人的成例而已。过去，周文王舍弃嫡子伯邑考而立武王，宋微子不立嫡、孙腯而立其弟衍，所以说仲子也不过是沿袭古人的成例而已。 
昔者文王舍伯邑考而立武王，微子舍其孙腯而立衍也；夫仲子亦犹行古之道也。 
Bozi defended Zhongzi, saying: “Zhongzi’s just following the examples set by the ancients. In the past, King Wen of Zhou rejected his legitimate son Prince Boyi Kao in favor of King Wu, Duke Wei of Song rejected his legitimate son Prince Bifang in favor of his younger brother Yan, so this shows that Zhongzi’s just following the examples set by the ancients.”