Original text: (Taizong) sighed: "With copper as a mirror, you can straighten your clothes; Taking history as a mirror, we can know the rise and fall, and taking people as a mirror, we can know the gains and losses. I have tried to protect these three lessons, and I defend myself from the heart. Today, when Wei Zhi dies, this is a lesson of death. I got a book and a piece of paper instead of sending people to their homes. The knower said,' There are good and evil in the world, and good is national security, while using the wicked is harmful to the country. There is love and hate among the masses or within them. Those who hate only see evil, while those who love only see good. Be careful between love and hate. Love knows its evil, hate its good, and don't doubt its evil. "The thing is roughly like this. I think about it, but I'm afraid I can't help it. Officials and ministers can write it (hù), and they will be remonstrated if they know it. "
Emperor Taizong sighed: "using copper as a mirror can make you dignified and tidy when wearing it;" Taking history as a mirror, we can know the rise and fall of existence since the dynasties; Take people as a mirror, you can know your own gains and losses. I used to keep these three mirrors to prevent myself from making mistakes. Now that Wei Zhi is dead, I have lost a mirror. I sent someone to his house recently and found a manuscript, which was only half written. It is understandable that there are good and bad things in the world. If you hire good people, the country will be stable; If you hire bad people, the country will decline. Between love and hate, we should be careful. Love the shortcomings, hate the strengths, do not hesitate to eliminate evil, and appoint people on their merits in order to prosper. "The general content of the book is like this. I always think about it for fear of making mistakes. Officials and courtiers can write on the board, and those who know that they can remonstrate must remonstrate. "