he used to say only people corrupt people. this one who farts and speaks in cold and reprehensible language if he did not have someone to laugh at him or some to thank him and laugh with him or if he only shows amazement at him the farter would not have farted and the jokes would not have been made except by his people. people saying to the gluttonous eater and the voracious desirer soandso eats well is what ruined him and increased his desire until he made it a profession and he may even eat because of their saying and their closeness and amazement what he cannot bear so he has attacked a people eaten their provisions and left them.
وكان يقول ليس يفسد الناس إلا الناس. هذا الذي يضرط ويتكلم الكلام البارد وبالطرف المستنكرة، لو لم يصب من يضحك له، وبعض من يشكره ويتضاحك له، أو ليس هو عنده إلا أن يظهر العجب به، لما ضرط الضارط، ولما تكلف النوادر إلا أهله. قول الناس للأكول النهم وللرغيب الشرة فلان حسن الأكل هو الذي أهلكه وزاد في رغبه، حتى جعل ذلك صناعة، وحتى ربما أكل، لمكان قولهم وتقريبهم وتعجبهم، ما لا يطيقه فلا يزال قد هجم على قوم، فأكل زادهم وتركهم