《论衡·卷一·逢遇篇》
因此，被赏识重用还是遭厌恶斥退，原因是各种各样的：有的是贤臣却辅佐了暴君；有的是臣子才大却要服从于才小的君主；有的是臣与君都有大才，而道德却有清浊高低之分；有的是虽没有道德，却以一技之长合了君主的意；有的是连一技之长都没有，而是仗着姿色受到宠爱。
所以遇不遇非一也：或时贤而辅恶；或以大才从於小才；或俱大才，道有清浊；或无道德而以技合；或无技能，而以色幸。
Therefore, there are various reasons for being recognized and respected or being hated and dismissed: some are loyal ministers but serve the tyrant; some are ministers of great talent but have to obey the monarch of small talent; some ministers and monarchs have great talent, but their morals are high and low; some have no morals, but they can please the monarch with their special skills; some even have no special skills, but they are favored because of their beauty.