《资治通鉴·汉纪·汉纪三十五》
刘秀亲自到太学，召集众博士在他面前讨论问题，提出质疑。桓荣辩析和阐述经典的精义，每每以礼让的态度使人折服，不以言辞锋利压倒对方，其他儒家学者都赶不上他。刘秀对他特加赏赐。
车驾幸太学，会诸博士论难于前，荣辨明经义，每以礼让相厌，不以辞长胜人，儒者莫之及，特加赏赐。
Liu Xiu personally went to the Imperial University, gathered all the doctors of history and philosophy to talk about issues in front of him, and asked them questions. Huan Rong always won over others by being courteous and yielding while explaining and expounding the classics, and did not use sharp words to overwhelm others, and the other Confucian scholars were not as good as him. Liu Xiu bestowed special rewards on him.