《史记·七十列传·平津侯主父列传》
但是，他们都不是公侯的后代，也并非大官的下属，没有一尺一寸的小小权势，从闾巷兴起，手持戟矛，顺应时势，都行动起来，没有预先谋画却同时起兵，没有约定却同时相会合，不断扩大土地，最后成为霸王，这是当时的教化使他们成为这个样子。
然皆非公侯之後，非长官之吏也。无尺寸之势，起闾巷，杖棘矜，应时而皆动，不谋而俱起，不约而同会，壤长地进，至于霸王，时教使然也。
But none of them were descendants of princes and marquises, nor were they subordinates of high officials. They had not even the smallest bit of official authority. They rose up from the lanes and alleys, grasped spears and halberds, and rose up with the times. They did not plan in advance yet revolted at the same time; they had no agreement yet came together at the same time. They rapidly expanded their territories and finally became overlords. These were the teachings of that time that caused them to behave in this way.