perhaps a persons nature is averse to all manners and crafts so he does not stick to any of them. the evidence for this is that some people of reason sought to discipline their children and worked hard at that and spent money on it but they did not achieve what they tried to achieve. therefore the one who directs a boy if he seeks to choose a craft should first weigh the boys nature guide his intellect and know his intelligence then choose the crafts for him according to that. then if he chooses one of the crafts for him he should know the extent of his inclination towards it and his desire for it and he should look to see whether it is based on knowledge or not and whether his tools and equipment are helpful. he has a forsaken mother then he decides to do so. this is more prudent in management and further from the childs days being wasted on something that does not benefit him.
وربما نافر طباع إنسان جميع الآداب والصنائع فلم يعلق منها بشيء ومن الدليل على ذلك أن أناسا من أهل العقل راموا تأديب أولادهم واجتهدوا في ذلك وأنفقوا فيه الأموال فلم يدركوا من ذلك ما حاولوا فلذلك ينبغي لمدير الصبي إذا رام اختيار الصناعة أن يزن أولا طبع الصبي ويسير قريحته ويخبر ذكاءه فيختار له الصناعات بحسب ذلك فإذا اختار له إحدى الصناعات تعرف قدر ميله إليها ورغبته فيها ونظر هل جرت منه على عرفان أم لا وهل أدواته وآلاته مساعدة له عليها أم خاذلة ثم يبت العزم فإن ذلك احزم في التدبير وأبعد من أن تذهب أيام الصبي فيما لا يؤاتيه ضياعا