《梁书·本纪·卷一》
高祖上表道：我听说根据言论选取士人，士人便修饰其言论；根据行动选取人，人便竭力其行所谓才生于世，是困厄是通达惟靠时运；然而古之遣风已去，奔走争逐成为风俗，诬陷构罪夸伐炫耀，逐利竭尽微捆的锥刀之利。于是使选才授职部门，人来人往密集拥挤。
高祖上表曰：臣闻以言取士，士饰其言，以行取人，人竭其行。所谓才生于世，穷达惟时；而风流遂往，驰骛成俗，媒孽夸炫，利尽锥刀，遂使官人之门，肩摩毂击。
Gao Zu memorialized, saying: "I have heard that: 'When men of talent are selected on the basis of their speeches, they will polish their speech; when they are selected on the basis of their conduct, they will exert themselves in their actions.' Hence, talent is born in the world, whether in difficult or in prosperous times, all depends upon the circumstances. But now the elegant ways of antiquity are gone, and to run about and curry favor has become the custom; to slander and fabricate charges, to brag and to boast, people go all out to seek advantage with the sharp edges of awls and knives. Consequently, the departments in charge of selecting and appointing officials are teeming with crowds of men.