you will find among those who contact you someone who is overcome by excessive greed a fervent greed and your gentleness towards him to the point that he resents your wellbeing and seeks to join the ranks of someone who is not like him nor has the same status as him. you will find him independent because of what you do to him and insignificant because of your knowledge. the righteousness of one whose state is like this is the opposite of one whose affair is corrupted. so know their ways and their characteristics and treat everyone you must deal with with the medicine that is most effective for him whether gentleness gentleness or severity severity. it has been said in the proverb
وستجد في من يتصل بك من يغلبه إفراط الحرص وحميا الشره، ولين جانبك له، على أن ينقم العافية، ويطلب اللحوق بمنازل من ليس هو مثله، ولا له مثل دالته، فتلقاه لما تصنع به مستقلا، ولمعرفتك مستصغرا. وصلاح من كانت هذه حاله بخلاف ما فسد عليه أمره. فاعرف طرائقهم وشيمهم، وداو كل من لا بد لك من معاشرته بالدواء الذي هو أنجع فيه، إن لينا فلينا، وإن شدة فشدة؛ فقد قيل في المثل