《北史·列传·卷二十八》
显宗回答说 ：我生逢您所治理的开明盛世，直笔写来，毫不惧怕，又不接受别人的金钱，睡得安稳，吃得有味，这又比司马迁、班固优越呀。 
显宗曰： 臣仰遭明时，直笔无惧，又不受金，安眠美食，此优于迁、固也。 
Emperor Xianzong replied, "I was born in the enlightened and prosperous reign you ruled. I write with a straightforward pen and I am not afraid of anything. I don't accept bribes from others, and I can sleep well and eat with relish. This is better than Sima Qian and Ban Gu!"