《韩非子·孤愤》
因此，蒙蔽君主而投奔私人门下的，不在官爵级别上显赫，必在外交职权上重用了∷械牡比ㄖ爻级杂诰骼此担如一今君主不验证核查就实行诛戮，不等建立功劳就授予爵禄，因此法术之士怎能冒死去陈述自己的主张？
是以弊主上而趋于私门者，不显于官爵，必重于外权矣。今人主不合参验而行诛，不待见功而爵禄，故法术之士安能蒙死亡而进其说？
Consequently, those, who deceive the ruler and take refuge by private subjects, will not be promoted to high offices but will be entrusted with important positions in diplomacy :: compared with the normal officials, such persons hold a lower rank in terms of their titles and positions, but they will enjoy more practical power in the execution of diplomatic missions :: at present, the ruler inflicts punitive sanctions without verifying facts and bestows titles and emoluments without waiting for meritorious achievements to be made; how, under such circumstances, can the Legalist scholars dare to risk their own lives in stating their views?