if you judge by the words of the common people then the common people are not a role model. how can someone be a role model who does not look nor acquire nor think nor represent? and if you judge by the sayings of poets and what the ignorant people of the age of ignorance were like then what they deemed ugly is something whose goodness is beyond doubt for us to stop at or to bother ourselves with examining it. however there is no generosity except that which requires gratitude just as there is no stinginess except that which requires blame. and the gift will not be a blessing to the one given unless the gift itself is intended. and gratitude will not be required of him except with the condition of intention. and everyone whose generosity returns to him and if it did not return to him he would not have been generous to you even if that were possible for him.
فإن قضيتم بقول العامة، فالعامة ليست بقدوة. وكيف يكون قدوة من لا ينظر ولا يحصل ولا يفكر ولا يمثل ٤ ؟ وإن قضيتم بأقاويل الشعراء، وما كان عليه أهل الجاهلية الجهلاء، فما قبحوه مما لا يشك في حسنه أكثر من أن نقف عليه، أو نتشاغل باستقصائه. على أنه ليس بجود إلا ما أوجب الشكر، كما أنه ليس ببخل إلا ما أوجب اللوم. ولن تكون العطية نعمة على المعطى حتى يراد بها نفس ذلك المعطى ٥ . ولن يجب عليه الشكر إلا مع شريطة القصد. وكل من كان جوده يرجع إليه، ولولا رجوعه إليه لما جاد عليك، ولو تهيأ له ذلك