 the dirham is the pole around which the millstone of the world turns. know that getting rid of the dirhams whims and its escape and being cautious of the intoxication of wealth and its extreme volatility if its guardian were of sound mind and sound limbs when it escaped he would have put it back in its reins and tied it tightly. but we found its weakness in controlling it in proportion to its trembling in his hand. and do not be deceived by their saying
والدرهم هو القطب الذي تدور عليه رحى الدنيا. واعلم أن التخلص من نزوات ٢ الدرهم وتفلته والتحرز من سكر الغنى، وتقلبه شديد، فلو كان إذا تفلت كان حارسه صحيح العقل، سليم الجوارح، لرده في عقاله، ولشده بوثاقه. ولكنا وجدنا ضعفه عن ضبطه، بقدر قلقه في يده. ولا تغتر بقولهم