In "Heiji Monogatari" (The tale of the Heiji) and "Heike Monogatari" (The tale of the Heike), Nariyori was described as a wise man, but some writings like "Gukansho" (Jottings of a Fool) said his becoming a priest was not good.
『平治物語』、『平家物語』を通じて賢人として描かれる人物であるが、『愚管抄』のようにその出家は無益であったと評する文書もある。