《贞观政要·卷二·论求谏》
如果国君行为不当，臣下又不尽职，只知道阿谀奉承，苟全性命，凡事只知道说好，那么这样的君主就是昏庸的君主，臣子就是阿谀的臣子。君主昏庸，臣子阿谀，那么距离国家的灭亡就为期不远了。
若人主所行不当，臣下又无匡谏，苟在阿顺，事皆称美，则君为暗主，臣为谀臣，君暗臣谀，危亡不远。
If the monarch's behavior is improper, and the ministers do not perform their duties, but only know how to flatter,苟全性命, and always say good things, then such a monarch is a昏庸的君主, and the ministers are阿谀的臣子. When the monarch is昏庸, and the ministers are阿谀, then the country is not far from滅亡.