the people who are most deserving of this and most in need of it are the leaders. when these people have abandoned the authority of verification and the power of affectation they have abandoned caring about their lapses and following up their mistakes with regrets. their habit of being indulgent and lacking modesty has continued except for a few of them whose minds have excelled whose dreams have been sound and whose insights have penetrated their selfcontrol. their conduct has been improved and their way has been straightened. what has increased the severity of their affliction by concealing their faults is that they have been afraid to express faults face to face and to express shortcomings and criticism verbally and they have been afraid to announce slander anger and atrocity.
وأحق الناس بذلك وأحوجهم إليه الرؤساء فإن هؤلاء لما خرجوا عن سلطان التثبت وعن ملكة التصنع تركوا الاكتراث للسقطات وتعقب الهفوات بالندمات فاستمرت عادتهم على كثرة الاسترسال وقلة الاحتشام إلا قليلا منهم برعت عقولهم ورجحت أحلامهم ونفذت في ضبط أنفسهم بصائرهم فحسنت سيرتهم واستقامت طريقتهم ومما زاد في عظم بلائهم باكتتام عيوبهم أنهم هيبوا عن التعبير بالمعايب مواجهة وعن النقص والذم مشافهة وخيفوا في إعلان الثلب والعضب والشنع