you may find the truth of this saying and we bear witness to it. that is because we have never seen a king arab or nonarab last long except for one who investigated secrets and searched for hidden news until he was in charge of his subjects as clearly as daylight.
وقد تجد مصداق هذا القول ونشهد به. وذلك أنا لم نر مدة طالت لملك عربي ولا عجمي قط إلا لمن فحص عن الأسرار، وبحث عن خفي الأخبار، حتى يكون في أمر رعيته على مثل وضح النهار.