《易传·象传下·革》
革除旧的事物，这样做是吉祥的，因为这符合变革的志向。 伟大的人物像猛虎一般进行变革 ，表明变革必然成功，其美德光照天下。 君子像有斑纹的豹子那样进行变革 ，说明君子协助有道德的大人物一起变革，必然使变革的成就更加光辉灿烂； 连小人也顺应变革改变旧日倾向 ，说明大势所趋，小人也不得不顺从君子的变革。
改命之吉，信志也。大人虎变，其文炳也。君子豹变，其文蔚也。小人革面，顺以从君也。
To remove the old things and adopt the new is auspicious, because it is in line with the ambition of change. The great figures carry out the changes like fierce tigers, which shows that the changes will surely succeed, and their virtues will shine over the whole world. The gentlemen carry out the changes like leopards with spots, which shows that the gentlemen help people with morals to carry out the changes together, which will surely make the achievements of the changes even more brilliant; even the villains follow the changes and change the old tendency, which shows that the trend is prevailing and the villains have to follow the gentlemen's changes.