《淮南子·汜论训》
伊尹实在是从砧板、灶边锅旁发迹的，姜太公是从屠宰场显身的，管仲是从牢狱中解放出来后立下功绩的，百里奚从牛棚中兴起的，在用香汤沐浴洗尽身上的污垢，举行祓除仪式消除身上的晦气后，被提拔到朝廷，封给三公高位，委以重权，对内无愧于国家，对外无愧于诸侯；他们之所以能在卑贱低微时被人看中，是因为他们身上的某些品质的显露正合君王的心意和时代的特征。
夫发于鼎俎之间，出于屠酤之肆，解于累绁之中，兴于牛颔之下，洗之以汤沐，祓之以爟火，立之于本朝之上，倚之于三公之位，内不惭于国家，外不愧于诸侯，符势有以内合。
Yi Yin really started from the chopping board, beside the stove, and by the pot. Jiang Taigong emerged from the slaughterhouse. Guan Zhong made his contributions after being released from prison.百里奚 rose from the cowshed. After taking a fragrant bath to wash away the dirt from his body and performing an exorcism ceremony to remove the bad luck from his body, he was promoted to the court, given the high position of the three dukes, and entrusted with important powers. He was worthy of the country internally and worthy of the vassals externally. The reason why they could be valued by others when they were humble and humble was that the revelation of certain qualities in them was in line with the king's will and the characteristics of the times.