《南齐书·志·卷十九》
君主昏庸，抛弃法律，不杀谗佞奸邪的小人，那么就会谗言盛行，对内疏远亲人，对外疏远忠臣，以至于杀死太子，驱逐功臣，把妾作为妻子，那么火就会失去它的本性，上烧宗庙，下烧府第台榭，内烧宫城，外烧宫观，虽然兴师动众，也不能抢救。
人君疑惑，弃法律，不诛谗邪，则谗口行，内间骨肉，外疏忠臣，至杀世子，逐功臣，以妾为妻，则火失其性，上灾宗庙，下灾府榭，内本朝，外阙观，虽兴师众，不能救也。
When the ruler is muddleheaded, laws are abandoned, and malfeasant and cunning villains are not killed, then slanderous talk will run rampant, there will be alienation of family members internally, and alienation of loyal retainers externally, to the extent of killing the heir apparent, expelling meritorious officials, taking concubines as wives. Then fire will lose its natural properties, and burn the ancestral temples above, and the mansions and towers below, and the internal palace city, and the external temples. Even if a great army is mobilized, they will not be able to save it.