he used to say food is the enemy of bread. and salt is the one who prepared it for him. had it not been that god took revenge on him and helped him by his companion asking for water and increasing it i would have thought that he would have harmed the crops and the offspring. and with this he used to say if people drank water with food they would not be full and the one who drinks the least with food is the one who is full the most. that is because a man does not know how much he has eaten until he has had some water. and he may be full without knowing. so if he has more than what he needs by smelling it and if he has had some water after some that will make him aware of the extent of his needs so he will only have more to do with what is beneficial.
وكان يقول الآدام ٤ أعداء للخبز. وأعداها له المالح. فلولا أن الله انتقم منه وأعان عليه بطلب صاحبه الماء وإكثاره منه، لظننت أنه سيأتي على الحرث والنسل. وكان مع هذا يقول لو شرب الناس الماء على الطعام ما اتخموا، وأقلهم عليه شربا أكثرهم تخما ٥ . وذلك أن الرجل لا يعرف مقدار ما أكل حتى ينال من الماء. وربما كان شبعان وهو لا يدري. فإذا ازداد على مقدار الحاجة بشم ٦ . وإذا نال من الماء شيئا بعد شيء، عرفه ذلك مقدار الحاجات، فلم يزد إلا بقدر المصلحة.