Controlling the imperial government for more than 40 years ,Huo Guang had rendered fairly outstanding service to the Western Han Dynasty. After Liu Xun ascended the throne, he made Imperial Concubine Xu his queen. Hankering after wealth and rank, Huo Guang's wife Huo Xian tried to make her youngest daughter Chengjun the queen of Lin Xun. So ,taking the opportunity of the queen's illness, Huo Xian bribed a woman doctor who poisoned the queen to death. The venomous scheme was brought to light,and the woman doctor was put into jail. Huo Guang knew nothing about it beforehand, and it was not until after the event that his wife told him about it. Seized with terror, Huo Guang reproached his wife for doing such a thing, He thought of reporting his wife for her crime, but at the same time did not have the heart to have her wife punished. After much hesitation, he conceited the thing offensive to God and reason in the end. After Huo Guang died,Emperor Xuandi was informed of the case. Someone was sent to investigate it. Hearing this,Huo Guang's wife discussed with her family members and trusted followers in order to find a way to deal with her family members and trusted followers in order to find a way to deal with the situation. Three decided to call the clansmen together to stage a rebellion. But the secret was divulged. Emperor Xuandi sent troops to surround Huo's home, and all the members of Hue's family were executed. Commenting on the merits and demerits of Huo Guang, historian Ban Gu(32-92) said in "The Life of Huo Guang "in his History of the Han Dynasty that Huo Guang "had neither knowledge nor skill and did not understand the major principles". That is to say, Huo Guang did not understand the truths concerning the overall situation because he did not study and had no knowledge. The set phrase" having neither knowledge nor skill" is later used to refer to being ignorant and incompetent.
漢武帝在位的時候,大將軍霍光是朝廷舉足輕重的大臣,深得武帝信任。武帝臨死前,把幼子劉弗陵(昭帝)托付給霍光輔佐。昭帝去世后,霍光又立劉詢做皇帝(宣帝)?;艄庹莆粘髾?quán)四十多年,為西漢王進立下了不小的功勛。劉詢承皇位以后,立許妃做皇后?;艄獾钠拮踊麸@,是個貪圖富貴的女人,她想把自己的小女兒成君嫁給劉詢做皇后,就趁許娘娘有病的機會,買通女醫(yī)下毒害死了許后。毒計敗露,女醫(yī)下獄。此事霍光事先一點也不知道,等事情出來了,霍顯才告訴他?;艄夥浅s@懼,指責(zé)妻子不該辦這種事情。他也想去告發(fā),但又不忍心妻子被治罪,前思后想,還是把這件傷天害理的事情隱瞞下來了?;艄馑篮螅腥讼蛐鄹姘l(fā)此案,宣帝派人去調(diào)查處理?;艄獾钠拮勇犝f了,與家人、親信商量對策,決定召集族人策劃謀反,不想走漏了風(fēng)聲,宣帝派兵將霍家包圍,滿門抄斬。東漢史學(xué)家班固在《漢書·霍光傳》中評論霍光的功過。說他“不學(xué)無術(shù),暗于大理”,意思是:霍光不讀書,沒學(xué)識,因而不明關(guān)乎大局的道理。成語“不學(xué)無術(shù)”,指沒有學(xué)問,沒有本領(lǐng)。