《资治通鉴·汉纪·汉纪十一》
汉武帝延揽士子文人，常常像怕人才不够用；但性情严厉刻薄，尽管是平日所宠信的群臣，或者犯点小错，或者发现有欺瞒行为，立即根据法律将其处死，从不宽恕。
上招延士大夫，常如不足；然性严峻，群臣虽素所爱信者，或小有犯法，或欺罔，辄按诛之，无所宽假。
Emperor Wu of Han recruits scholars and literati, often as if he is afraid of not using enough talents, though in temperament he is strict and mean. Even for ministers he favors, if they make a small fault, if they are found to lie and deceive, he immediately puts them to death in accordance with law, never forgiving them.