《晋书·志·第十章》
有的事情不能用有始有终之义要求，有的事情不能用依循常法之文要求，为什么众人议论纷纭呢同一个父亲的人没有嫡庶的区别，而先出生的为兄；爵位相同的诸侯没有等级的差别，而先受封的为长。
有不可责以始终之义，不可求以循常之文，何群议之纷错！同产者无嫡侧之别，而先生为兄；诸侯同爵无等级之差，而先封为长。
Some things cannot be demanded to have the meaning of a beginning and an end, and some things cannot be demanded to follow the text of the usual law. Why should everyone talk about the same father who has no distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and the one born first is the elder brother; the princes with the same title have no difference in rank, but the first one is the elder.