《汉书·传·张汤传》
张汤于是写报告说： 我没有些微的功劳，出身文书小吏，陛下宠幸让我担任三公，没有办法补救罪责。
汤乃为书谢曰： 汤无尺寸之功，起刀笔吏，陛下幸致位三公，无以塞责。
 Zhang Tang then wrote a report saying:  I have no credit, and I was born as a clerk. Your Majesty favored me and let me serve as the Three Dukes, but there is no way to remedy the crime.