《史记·七十列传·司马相如列传》
楚国若是有这些事，您把它说出来，这就是张扬国君的丑恶；如果楚国没有这些事，您却说有，这就有损于您的声誉，张扬国君的丑恶，损害自己的信誉，这两件事没有一样是可做的，而您却做了。这必将被齐国所轻视，而楚国的声誉也会受到牵累。
有而言之，是章君之恶；无而言之，是害足下之信。章君之恶而伤私义，二者无一可，而先生行之，必且轻於齐而累於楚矣。
If there are such things in the Chu State, if you tell about them, it will be spreading the ruler's dishonor. If there are no such things in the Chu State, but you say there are, then it will damage your reputation. Spreading the ruler's dishonor, damaging your reputation, there is nothing to gain from doing these two things, but you did them. It will definitely be looked down upon by the Qi State, and the reputation of the Chu State will be affected.