先秦很看重侯王的自谦自责。甚至以此判断国之兴亡。如《左传·庄公十一年》:“秋,宋大水。鲁庄公使吊焉。曰:‘天作淫雨,害于粢(zi谷类)盛,若之何不吊’?对曰:‘孤实不敬,天降之灾,又以为君忧,拜命之辱’。臧文仲曰:‘宋其兴乎?禹汤罪己,其兴也勃焉;桀纣罪人,其亡也忽。且列国有凶称孤,言惧而名礼,其庶乎!’” Pre-Qin very much value Hou Wang self-humiliation. Even to judge the rise and fall of the country. Such as “Zuo Zhuang male eleven years”: “autumn, Song flood .Luo Zhuang envoys Yan said: ’days as a malevolent rain, Harmonica (zi cereal) Sheng, if not why not?’ Solitary and disrespectful, the disaster of heaven, but also that you worry about, worship life of insult. ”Zang Wenzhong said: ’Song its Xing Yu? Sin sin, its Xing booming Yan, sinister criminals, their death also suddenly. Called alone, the word fear and the ceremony, the Shu almost! ’