 many a meal prevents many meals. many a rush brings delay. they criticized the one who said a meal and death. they said do not seek a trace after an eye. they said do not be like one who is overcome by his self in what he thinks and does not overcome it in what he is certain of. so look at how you spend the dirham but you do not spend it. they said worse than a calamity is a bad offspring. the poet said
رب أكلة تمنع أكلات. ورب عجلة تهب ريثا ١ ، وعابوا من قال أكلة وموتة ، وقالوا لا تطلب أثرا بعد عين . وقالوا لا تكن كمن تغلبه نفسه على ما يظن، ولا يغلبها على ما يستيقن . فانظر كيف تخرج الدرهم، ولم تخرجه. وقالوا شر من المرزئة ٢ سوء الخلف . وقال الشاعر