《论衡·卷二十七·定贤篇》
如果周道不败坏，孔子不编写《春秋》，未必他不具备作为孔子的才能，只是没有理由来促使他从事编写。
如周道不弊，孔子不作者，未必无孔子之才，无所起也。
If the Way of the Zhou had not deteriorated, and Confucius had not compiled the Spring and Autumn Annals, it is not that he did not have the ability to become Confucius, but that there was no reason to prompt him to compile it.