《史记·七十列传·李斯列传》
李斯知道儒家《六经》的要旨，却不致力于政治清明，用以弥补皇帝的过失，而是凭仗他显贵的地位，阿谀奉承，随意附合，推行酷刑峻法，听信赵高的邪说，废掉嫡子扶苏而立庶子胡亥。
斯知六艺之归，不务明政以补主上之缺，持爵禄之重，阿顺苟合，严威酷刑，听高邪说，废適立庶。
Li Si knew the essentials of the Confucian "Six Classics", but he did not commit himself to politics and justice, to make up for the emperor's mistakes. Instead, relying on his own high position, he flattered and complimented the emperor, followed along with him, promoted cruel laws, listened to Zhao Gao's evil ideas, and abolished the legitimate son Fusu and established the illegitimate son Hu Hai.