Chovos Halvavos continues exploring the danger of excessive caution and perfectionism. If everyone waited until they were perfectly qualified before undertaking something worthwhile, very little good would ever be accomplished. Human imperfection is no excuse for failing to act.

Rabbeinu Bachya recognizes something even more troubling: the Yetzer Hara is remarkably good at manufacturing excuses. When it comes to doing something worthwhile, we suddenly discover a thousand reasons to hesitate. But when it comes to doing something wrong, those excuses mysteriously disappear. Recognizing this trap, he resolves to push ahead with writing his sefer.