《北齐书·列传·卷四十三》
朝廷要重赏他，羊烈对别人说： 造就好比是砍掉自己的手来保住整个身体，保存重要的，岂是藉助堂兄的失败为自己谋利呢? 最终也没接受奖赏。
朝廷将加厚赏，烈告人云： 譬如斩手全躯，所存者大尔，岂有幸从兄之败以为己利乎？ 卒无所受。
The court wanted to reward him heavily. Yang Lie said to others: "Making good is like cutting off your own hand to save your whole body. Saving the important thing is not to take advantage of your cousin's failure to benefit yourself." In the end, he did not accept the reward.