'Abdu'l-Malik ibn Marwan entrusted the teaching of his children to ash-Sha'bi and said, "Teach them poetry so that they will possess dignity and vigor. Feed them meat so that their hearts will be strong. Cut off their hair so that their necks will be strong. Make them sit with men of distinction who will contradict them in words."

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مَعْنٌ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ سَلاَّمٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ بْنَ مَرْوَانَ دَفَعَ وَلَدَهُ إِلَى الشَّعْبِيِّ يُؤَدِّبُهُمْ، فَقَالَ: عَلِّمْهُمُ الشِّعْرَ يَمْجُدُوا وَيُنْجِدُوا، وَأَطْعِمْهُمُ اللَّحْمَ تَشْتَدُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ، وَجُزَّ شُعُورَهُمْ تَشْتَدُّ رِقَابُهُمْ، وَجَالِسْ بِهِمْ عِلْيَةَ الرِّجَالِ يُنَاقِضُوهُمُ الْكَلامَ.