《礼记·表记》
孔子说： 臣下事奉君主，要先考虑好自己的建议，然后拜见君主，亲自向君主进言；君主采纳以后，臣下就要全力以赴地促其实现，兑现自己的诺言。
子言之： 事君先资其言，拜自献其身，以成其信。是故君有责于其臣，臣有死于其言。
Confucius said: When a minister serves his ruler, he should first think everything through and then go to the ruler to speak his mind. When the ruler has agreed, he should follow through on his plans with all his strength so that his words match his actions.