 know that your greatest helpers against him are arguments and then opportunity. then do not show him an argument nor take advantage of him nor seek to stumble for him nor tear off his cover except when you have the opportunity in all of that and in the places where you must excuse him and his harm is great if forgiving him is bad for him.
واعلم أن أعظم أعوانك عليه الحجج ثم الفرصة، ثم لا تظهرن عليه حجة، ولا تهتبل منه غرة، ولا تطلبن له عثرة، ولا تهتكن له سترا إلا عند الفرصة في ذلك كله، وفي المواضع التي يجب لك فيها العذر ويعظم فيها ضرره، إن كان العفو عنه شرا له.