《新唐书·列传·卷八十二》
陆贽说： 古代帝王，品德符合上天的名号是 皇 ，符合大地的名号是 帝 ，符合于人民的名号是 王 ，以天为父亲，大地做母亲，来养育人民，创造财富、都能适宜的人的名号是 天子 。这都是很大的名号了。
贽奏言： 古之人君，德合于天曰 皇 ，合于地曰 帝 ，合于人曰 王 ，父天母地以养人治物得其宜者曰 天子 ，皆大名也。
Lu Zhi said: In ancient times, the titles of the emperors were: Emperor , who had virtues that conformed to Heaven's; Emperor , who had virtues that conformed to the Earth's; and King , who had virtues that conformed to the people's. The title Son of Heaven was given to those who had Heaven as their father and Earth as their mother, and who raised the people and created wealth and who were able to be appropriate people's names. These are all great titles.