Then there is the story of Su Tung-po's performance at the palace examinations, as recorded in his biography of the poet by Lin Yutang: "He was developing the theme that in giving rewards one should rather err on the side of generosity, and in punishment one should give every benefit of the doubt to an offender lest an innocent man be killed.
蘇東坡的絕事，不只在文章、口舌上，還在身體行為上。林語堂所著的「蘇東坡傳」中有段記載：東坡參加殿試的時候，暢言獎賞寧可失之過寬，處罰若有疑問則應慎刑，免傷無辜的道理。