《资治通鉴·梁纪·梁纪五》
有人问他为什么这样做，高欢说： 皇宫中的卫兵们结伙起来焚烧了大臣的住宅，朝廷却畏惧他们叛乱而不敢过问，执政到了这种地步，事态如何便可想而知了，岂可死守着这些财物而过一辈子呢？ 
或问其故，欢曰： 宿卫相帅焚大臣之第，朝廷惧其乱而不问，为政如此，事可知矣，财物岂可常守邪！ 
Someone asked him why he did this. Gao Huan said: "The palace guards huddled together and burned down the minister's house. But the court was afraid of their rebellion and did not dare to ask about it. If the government is handled in this way, what will be the outcome? How can I die so that I can spend my life guarding these properties?"