《南史·列传·卷十五》
所以尚书左仆射、前将军大臣刘穆之，起自平民家庭，辅佐大业开创，对内竭尽谋划，对外勤于政务，为了国家勤勉努力，精神体力都已用尽。
故尚书左仆射、前将军臣穆之，爰自布衣，协佐义始，内竭谋猷，外勤庶政，密勿军国，心力俱尽。
Thus, as the Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Prefect of the Front Army and Court Official Liu Muzhi rose from a lower-class family and planned the foundation of the great cause; internally, he dried his brain on every scheme and externally, he was diligent with governmental affairs. In his devotion to the country, he exhausted both his mental and physical energy.