《旧唐书·列传·卷一百三十九》
若愿做伊尹、霍去病扶持即将倾覆的社稷，我虽已迟暮之年，仍愿竭尽全力；如果像王莽、董卓一样乘人之危窃夺大位，那么老夫的确是老了，没有能力做什么了。 
欲为伊、霍继绝扶倾，虽迟暮，犹愿尽力；若为莽、卓乘危迫险，则老夫耄矣，无能为也。 
If I will do as Yi Yin and Huo Qubing did, support the nearly collapsed society, then though I am at the end of my life, I am still willing to try my best; If I do as Wang Mang and Dong Zhuo did, take advantage of others' danger to usurp the throne, then I am really old and have no ability to do anything. 