《汉书·传·东方朔传》
这时朝廷有大量的能人，皇上又问东方朔说： 如今公孙弘丞相、倪宽大夫、董仲舒、夏侯始昌、司马相如、吾丘寿王、主父偃、朱买臣、严助、汲黯、胶仓、终军、严安、徐乐、司马迁之类，都能言善辩才智弘达，文辞横溢，先生你自己看看，怎么能与他们相比呢？ 
是时，朝廷多贤材，上复问朔： 方今公孙丞相，皃大夫、董仲舒、夏侯始昌、司马相如、吾丘寿王、主父偃、朱买臣、严助、汲黯、胶仓、终军、严安、徐乐、司马迁之伦，皆辩知闳达，溢于文辞，先生自视，何与比哉？ 
At that time there were a great many able men at court, and the Emperor again asked Dongfang Shuo, “Now, there are at present the Prime Minister, Gongsun Hong; Niu Kuan, the Grand Master of Ceremonies; Dong Zhongshu; Xiahou Shichang; Sima Xiangru; Wuchou Shouwang; Zhu Maichen; Yan Zhu; Ji Ang; Xu An; Jiao Cang; Zhongjun; Yan An; Xu Le; and Sima Qian–all men of fine words and rare talents, with brilliant literary ability: what do you think of your own ability in comparison with these men?”