he went too far in denouncing and criticizing something he saw from him but this did not anger him rather he praised him for it and showed him good news and pleasure at what he saw from him. he should renew the question of this person he supervises from time to time because bad morals and taxes may occur after they did not exist. he should inquire and sense what his neighbors clients and brothers say about him and what they praise him for and what they criticize him for because if a man follows this path in this sense hardly any of his faults will be hidden from him even if they are few and hidden. if he happens to have an enemy or a disputer who loves to show his faults and shortcomings he will not realize his faults beforehand but he will be forced and compelled to stop them if he is someone who has value for himself and loves to be good and virtuous. galen wrote a book in this sense which he titled on the good who benefit from their enemies in which he mentioned the benefits that came to him because of an enemy he had. he also wrote on a man knowing his own defects an article whose main points and summary we have mentioned here. what we have mentioned in this regard is sufficient and eloquent and whoever uses it will remain like a cup corrected and educated.
زاد وأسرف في تقبيح شيء رآه منه وتهجينه لم يغضبه ذلك بل حمده عليه وأظهر له بشرا وسرورا بما رآه منه. وينبغي أن يجدد سؤال هذا المشرف عليه حالا بعد حال. فإن الأخلاق والضرائب الردية قد تحدث بعد أن لم تكن. وينبغي أن يستخبر ويتحسس ما يقول فيه جيرانه ومعاملوه وإخوانه وبماذا يمدحونه وبماذا يعيبونه، فإن الرجل إذا سلك في هذا المعنى هذا المسلك لم يكد يخفى عليه شئ من عيوبه وإن قل وخفى. فإن اتفق له ووقع عدو ومنازع محب لإظهار مساويه ومعايبه لم يستدرك من قبله معرفة عيوبه، بل إظطر والجئ إلى الإقلاع عنها، إن كان ممن لنفسه مقدار وممن يحب أن يكون خيرا فاضلا. وقد كتب في هذا المعنى جالينوس كتابا جعل رسمة في الأخيار ينتفعون بأعدائهم، فذكر فيه منافع صارت أليه من أجل عدو كان له. وكتب أيضا في تعرف الرجل عيوب نفسه مقالة قد ذكرنا نحن جوامعها وجملتها هنا. وفيما ذكرنا من هذا الباب كفاية وبلاغ، ومن استعمله لم يزل كالقدح مقوما مثقفا