《宋史·列传·卷一百七十二》
他还说 ：我的这个策略，在开禧用兵之前施行，决不至于遭受今天的祸患。 他议论钱币法，非常切中当时的弊病，皇上称赞了很久，并说： 你文章博学超出了世俗，应该代替我讲话，为什么极力推辞呢？ 赵汝谈最终因年老请求罢官，四次上章，被免去兼直，改任侍讲，数日后，他仍兼直学士院，推辞了五次。
且曰： 臣之此策，行于开禧未用兵之前，决不至罹今日之患。 其论楮法，尤中时敝，上称叹久之，且谓： 卿文学高世，宜代予言，力辞何为？ 卒以老祈免，章四上，免兼直，改侍讲。数日，仍兼直学士院，五辞。
He also said: If my strategy had been implemented before the use of troops of Kaixi, the disaster that happened today would not have happened. When he discussed the currency system, he accurately pointed out the problems at that time. The emperor praised him for a long time and said: Your essays are beyond the vulgar. You should speak on my behalf. Why do you strongly refuse? Zhao Rutan finally asked to resign because of his old age. He submitted his memorial four times before he was exempted from the post of concurrently working as a straight official. He was transferred to be a shijiang. Several days later, he still worked concurrently as an academician at the school of history. He turned down the offer five times.