《后汉书·本纪·皇后纪上》
假使善政不记述，细小灾异却总把它写下来，这便是唐尧商汤有洪水大旱的责任，而无各种事功都兴盛吉祥嘉天之美德；殷高宗祭成汤雉飞鼎耳而句隹，成王疑周公而有雷电大风的变异；却无视高宗修德而殷中兴，成王改过几致刑措的康宁之功。
若善政不述，细异辄书，是为尧、汤负洪水大旱之责，而无咸熙假天之美；高宗、成王有雉雊迅风之变，而无中兴康宁之功也。
If good governance goes unrecorded, while all minor calamities are accounted for in detail, then Tang Yao and Shang Tang might be blamed for severe floods and droughts, without any credit for their various achievements and prosperous, auspicious and favourable reigns; or King Gaozong of Yin might be criticised for the tale of the pheasant flying onto the tripod handle at the Cheng Tang sacrifice, or for the meteorological events of thunder, lightning and gale force winds during King Cheng's doubts over the Duke of Zhou; yet no mention would be made of Gaozong's self-cultivation and the subsequent revival of Yin, or King Cheng's reformation and the peace and security that was almost achieved.