《汉书·志·艺文志》
古代帝王世代都有史官，君王的举动一定加以记录，其目的是以此使君主言行谨慎，其言行可为民之法则。
古之王者世有史官。君举必书，所以慎言行，昭法式也。
Ancient emperors had historians in their generations to record the behaviors of emperors so that emperors could speak and act carefully, and their words and behaviors could be the norms of the people.