《贞观政要·卷三·论择官》
一是贪得无厌，不务正业，苟且偷生，没有立场，这样的臣子，是具臣。二是认为君主说的话都是好的，君主的行为都是对的，只会趋炎附势，助长君主的逸乐，不顾严重后果，这样的臣子，是谀臣。
一曰安官贪禄，不务公事，与世浮沉，左右观望，如此者，具臣也，二曰主所言皆曰善，主所为皆曰可，隐而求主之所好而进之，以快主之耳目，偷合苟容，与主为乐，不顾其后害，如此者，谀臣也。
First is being insatiable, not working in the right way, seeking a苟且偷生 life, having no position. Such ministers are ones of mean character. Second is thinking that everything the monarch says is correct, that the monarch's behavior is correct, only pandering to the monarch's desires, encouraging the monarch's enjoyment, and not considering the serious consequences. Such ministers are flattering ones.