to it and keen on the universe in it it has not left its place and has not ceased to be attached to something of it and has not ceased due to the circulation of the universe and the corruption of the body in which it is in continuous successive pains and many harmful worries. this is a summary of the opinion of plato and before him the imaginative and deified socrates. and further there is no worldly opinion at all except that it requires something of restraining passion and desires and does not allow their neglect and procrastination. so restraining passion and deterring it is obligatory in every opinion and with every rational person and in every religion. so let the rational person observe these meanings with the eye of his mind and make them part of his concern and worry. and if he does not acquire from this book the highest ranks and stations in this regard then he should at least cling to even the lowest stations of it and this is the opinion of the one who saw restraining passion to the extent that it does not bring
إليه وتحرص على الكون فيه لم تبرح مكانها ولم تزل متعلقة بشيء منه، ولم تزل لتداول الكون والفساد للجسد الذي هي فيه في آلام متصلة مترادفة وهموم جمة مؤذية. فهذه جملة من رأي فلاطن ومن قبله سقراط المتخلي المتأله. وبعد فما من رأي دنيائي قط إلا ويوجب شيئا من زم الهوى والشهوات ولا يطلق إهمالها وإمراجها، فزم الهوى وردعه واجب في كل رأي وعند كل عاقل وفي كل دين. فليلاحظ العاقل هذه المعاني بعين عقله ويجعلها من همه وباله. وإن هو لم يكتسب من هذا الكتاب أعلى الرتب والمنازل في هذا الباب فلا أقل من أن يتعلق ولو بأخس المنازل منه، وهو رأي من رأي زم الهوى بمقدار ما لا يجلب