《论衡·卷十九·宣汉篇》
唐尧、虞舜、夏代、殷代的事情都记载在二尺四寸大的经书上，读书人认真钻研，早晚互相讨论学习，由于经书上看不到关于汉代历史的记载，就说汉代不行，比不上唐、虞、夏、殷几代。也就如观看打猎没有看见捕鱼，游览在齐国、楚国就不羡慕宋国、鲁国一样。
唐、虞、夏、殷同载在二尺四寸，儒者读，朝夕讲习，不见汉书，谓汉劣不若，亦观猎不见渔，游齐、楚不愿宋、鲁也。
The events of Tang Yao, Yu Shun, Xia, and Yin are all recorded in classics that are two chi and four cun long. Scholars study them carefully, discuss and learn from each other early and late. Since there are no records of Han history in the classics, it is said that Han is not good, not as good as the Tang, Yu, Xia, and Yin generations. It is like watching a hunt without seeing fishing; touring in Qi and Chu, but not envying Song and Lu.