《明史·列传·卷一百三十三》
魏忠贤是一定不肯收回他那放纵的野心的缰绳来悔过自新的。魏忠贤的私党，一定不肯收回他们那谋取私利的船桨，而任其默默消融的。
忠贤必不肯收其已纵之缰，而净涤其肠胃；忠贤之私人，必不肯回其已往之棹，而默消其冰山。
Wei Zhongxian will not give up the reins of his ambition, and his clique will not withdraw their boat from the river of self-interest and let it drift away.