《资治通鉴·汉纪·汉纪五》
如果我现在不选择贤能之人为帝位继承人，而说必须传位给儿子，世人将认为我忘记了崐贤能有德的人，而专私于自己的儿子，这不是以天下为重的作法！ 
今不选举焉，而曰必子，人其以朕为忘贤有德者而专于子，非所以忧天下也！ 
If I do not choose a virtuous person to be the heir to the throne now, but say that I must pass it on to my son, the world will think that I have forgotten the virtuous and moral people, and that I am partial to my own son. This is not the way to take the world as my priority!