《史记·七十列传·张释之冯唐列传》
秦代由于重用了舞文弄法的官吏，所以官吏们争着以办事迅急苛刻督责为高，然而这样做的流弊在于徒然具有官样文书的表面形式，而没有怜悯同情的实质。
且秦以任刀笔之吏，吏争以亟疾苛察相高，然其敝徒文具耳，无恻隐之实。
In the Qin Dynasty, since officials who danced with phrases and engaged in manipulation were frequently employed, the officials competed with each other to regard harsh and pressing oversight as a virtue. However, the detrimental effect of doing so lay in having nothing more than an official document's superficial appearance, but without the substance of pity and sympathy.