夫为人主者,非欲养祸于内而疏忠臣硕士于外,盖其渐积而势使之然也。· Any ruler would not keep treacherous men inside his government and keep loyal officials and learned scholars away from his government. However,gradual accumulation of mistakes would force him to do what he would not do.
(Ouyang Xiu [1007-1072]: “On Biography of Eunuchs in the History of the Five Dynasties”)