《韩非子·孤愤》
重臣不能忠于君主而推荐自己的政敌，君主不能越过四种帮凶来洞察他的臣下，所以君主越来越受蒙蔽，而重臣的权势越来越大。
重人不能忠主而进其仇，人主不能越四助而烛察其臣，故人主愈弊而大臣愈重。
 Important ministers cannot be loyal to the monarch and recommend their political enemies. The monarch cannot see through his subjects beyond these four accomplices, so the monarch becomes more and more deceived and the power of important ministers grows stronger.