《北史·列传·卷四》
元善认为高赹是当宰相的合适人选。他曾经对皇帝说： 杨素过于粗俗，苏威为人懦弱，元胄、元正像鸭子一样。
善以高颎有宰相之具，尝言于上曰： 杨素粗疏，苏威怯懦，元胄、元旻，正似鸭耳。
Yuan Shan thought Gao Jie was the right person to be chancellor. He once told the emperor: “Yang Su was too vulgar, Su Wei was too timid, Yuan Zhou and Yuan Zheng were like ducks.”