if we were to limit ourselves in this book to a single letter of what is in it it would be sufficient god willing for those who have a mind and intellect. however the argument is more emphatic the clarification is more eloquent and the fortune in all of this saying is for those who understand it and accept it more abundant than for those who say it but do not act upon it. because the fruit of correctness is only reaped and its kindness differs from that of those who believe his words through their actions. for wisdom is words and deeds and the fortune of the speaker is only what he does not use his knowledge and his words are the fortune of the describers. the beauty of the description disappears with its disappearance and ends with its cessation. its duration until the speaker and the listener get tired of it is short.
ولو اقتصرنا في هذا الكتاب على حرف مما فيه، لكان بإذن الله كافيا لمن له لب وعقل، لكن الاحتجاج أوكد، والإيضاح أبلغ، والحظ في هذا القول كله لمن عقله والآخذ به، أوفر منه لمن قاله ولم يعمل بقوله؛ لأنه إنما يجتنى ثمرة الصواب، ويختلف برفقه من صدق قوله بفعله؛ فإن الحكمة قول وعمل، وإنما حظ القائل ما لم يستعمل علمه وقوله حظ الواصفين؛ وحسن الصفة يزول بزوالها، وينقطع بانقطاعها؛ ومدتها إلى أن يملها القائل والسامع يسيرة.