天下之患，莫过於斯，知贪前之利，不睹其后之患也。--《吴越春秋》 卷十二 （註1）

Of all the banes under heaven none can be worse than enjoying the momentary mirth in corruption and unethical behavior while ignoring the grim and dire consequences crouching behind.

刑于寡妻，至于兄弟，以御于家邦。-- 《毛诗》 卷三 （註2）

A man should first set a good example in his relationship with his wife and also become a role model in morality for his brothers. Then he can  extend his virtuous ways further to governing the state, his homeland.

是故为人君者, 所与游必择正人, 所观览必察正象, 放郑声（註3）而弗听, 远佞人而弗近, 然后邪心不生而正道可弘也。--《魏志》 上 卷二十五 （註4）

As a gentleman and leader of the people，the monarch should choose righteous and honest people to be his friends, observe and appreciate sceneries that are inspiring for his spiritual growth, and refrain from listening to decadent music of the State of Zheng（註4） and distance himself from eloquent flatterers. Thus, evil thoughts would not grow in his mind and virtuous ideas will be further enhanced and promoted vigorously throughout the country. 

（註1）《吴越春秋》是东汉时期的著作，东汉赵晔撰，唐皇甫遵删定。为稗官杂记体之别史，共有十卷。叙述春秋时期吴、越二国之间的战事。文辞丰蔚富饶，颇似小说家言。在四库全书中为史部记载类。

（註2）毛诗，指战国末年时，鲁国毛亨和赵国毛苌所辑和注的古文《诗》，也就是流行于世的《诗经》。 《诗经》作为中国文学史的第一部诗歌总集，共305篇，毛诗每一篇下都有小序，以介绍本篇内容、意旨等。而全书第一篇《关雎》下，除有小序外，另有一篇总序，称为《诗大序》，是古代中国诗论的第一篇专著。 东汉经学家郑玄曾为《毛传》作“笺”，至唐代孔颖达作《毛诗正义》。

（註3) 春秋战国时期郑国曾以其优美的诗乐文化闻名于世，其乐曲中也有使人心神迷乱的奢靡淫乐之音，史称“亡国之音”。

（註4）《魏志》是《三国志》的一部分。《三國志》由三部史书构成，分别是：《魏书》、《蜀书》、《吴书》。这个名称，是宋代以来形成的，在此之前，又一般称作 《魏志》、《蜀志》、《吴志》。