《后汉书·列传·桓谭冯衍列传下》
臣自思自己无 益者三友 之才,不敢处于 损者三友 之地,坚决辞而不受。以前在更始时期,屯兵太原执有货财的权柄,居仓卒之间,据位食禄二十余年,而财产一年比一年减少,日子一天比一天贫困,家中无布帛之积蓄,出门无舆马之装饰。
臣自惟无三益之才，不敢处三损之地，固让而不受之，昔在更始，太原执货财之柄，居苍卒之间，据位食禄二十余年，而财产岁狭，居处日贫，家无布帛之积，出无舆马之饰。
I pondered: I do not possess the ability of the "three helpful friends", and I cannot afford to be in the company of the "three harmful friends". So I firmly declined his offers. I had previously held great authority as the commander of the garrison at Taiyuan during the Gengshi period, enjoying a high salary and a comfortable life for over two decades. Yet my wealth dwindled every year, and my life became increasingly impoverished. My family had no cloth to spare, and I had no carriage or horse to ride.