《资治通鉴·汉纪·汉纪十九》
严延年摘下帽子，在门外崐叩头，过了很长时间，他的母亲才与他相见，并一再责备严延年说： 你有幸当了郡太守，独自管辖方圆一千里的地区，没听说你以仁爱教育、感化百姓，使百姓们得到安定和保全，反而利用刑罚，大量杀人，企图借此树立威严，这岂是作百姓父母官的本意？ 
延年免冠顿首阁下，良久，母乃见之，因数责延年： 幸得备郡守，专治千里，不闻仁爱教化，有以全安愚民。顾乘刑罚，多刑杀人，欲以立威，岂为民父母意哉！ 
Yan Yannian took off his hat and kowtowed outside the door. It was a long time later before his mother agreed to see him, and immediately reproached Yan Yannian, saying: "You are lucky to have become a county governor, and have sole authority over an area of a thousand square miles. I have not heard that you educate and inspire the people with benevolence, so that they live in stability and safety. To the contrary, you use criminal penalties to kill people in large numbers, in an attempt to establish your authority. How is this in keeping with the intent of being a parental official to the people?"