《汉书·传·司马相如传下》
救助人民于水深火热之中，尊奉皇帝的美德，扭转末世的衰颓，继承周代开国君主的事业，这就是天子的当务之急。
夫拯民于沈溺，奉至尊之休德，反衰世之陵夷，继周氏之绝业，天子之急务也。
To save the people from the depths of misery, to glorify the royal virtue, to reverse the decay of the latter age, and to continue the work of the founders of the House of Chou--this is the duty appropriate to the emperor.