刘基的失败在很早前就已经注定了
《明朝那些事儿》（二十三）
一、对于左右尊卑，古代也有一种说法：立者尊右，坐者尊左。就是说站着的时候，要让长者、地位高的人在右边，到坐下来的时候，则要反过来。
1. Regarding the etiquette of left and right positions denoting respect, ancient tradition held: "When standing, honor the right; when seated, honor the left." This meant that while standing, elders or those of higher status should be positioned on the right, but when seated, this order was reversed.
二、因为《孟子》中讲过“君轻民贵”的话，让造反起家的朱元璋非常反感，气急败坏之下，竟然下令将孟子的牌位移出孔庙，不再享受祭祀。为此，当朝大臣钱唐舍生忘死，居然抬着棺材去抗议。朱元璋这才收回成命。
2. Because Mencius's statement that "the people are more important than the ruler" deeply offended Zhu Yuanzhang, who had risen through rebellion, in a fit of anger he ordered Mencius's tablet removed from the Confucian Temple, ending his sacrificial honors. The court official Qian Tang, defying death, famously protested by carrying his own coffin before the emperor. Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang rescind the order.
三、刘基为朱元璋打天下立下了大功，却只被封诚意伯（伯爵），李善长的俸禄是四千石，多出刘基十几倍。
3. Although Liu Ji made monumental contributions to Zhu Yuanzhang's rise to power, he was only granted the title "Marquis of Chengxin" (a lower rank), while Li Shanchang's official stipend was 4,000 dan of grain—more than ten times that of Liu Ji.
四、朱元璋是一个乡土观念很重的人，李善长是他的老乡，而且多年来只在幕后工作，从不抢风头，只知埋头干活，这样的一个人朱元璋是很放心的。相对的，刘基是一个外乡人；更重要的是，刘基对事情的判断比他还要准确！
4. Zhu Yuanzhang held strong regional biases. Li Shanchang was his fellow townsman and had worked behind the scenes for years, never seeking the limelight but focusing diligently on his duties—such a person earned Zhu's trust. In contrast, Liu Ji was an outsider; more importantly, Liu Ji's judgment often proved more accurate than the emperor's own!
五、从龙湾之战到救援安丰，朱元璋想到的，刘基也想到了；朱元璋没有想到的，刘基还是想到了。朱元璋时不时就会想起他劝自己不要去救韩林儿这件事。谁知他将来会不会对自己也来这么一手？
5. From the Battle of Longwan to the rescue of Anfeng, whatever Zhu Yuanzhang conceived, Liu Ji had also conceived; what Zhu failed to consider, Liu Ji still anticipated. Zhu Yuanzhang often recalled Liu's advice against rescuing Han Lin'er. Who knew if Liu might one day employ similar strategies against the emperor himself?
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