Al-Mada’ini reported

Al-Mada’ini reported: Mu’awiyah said, “It is as if there is strand of hair between the people and myself to keep straight without breaking.” It was said, “How is that?” He said, “When they loosen it, I will tighten it; and when they tighten it, I will loosen it.”

Source: Rawdah Al-Aqla 40

عَنِ الْمَدَائِنِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لَوْ أَنَّ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ النَّاسِ شَعْرَةٌ مَا انْقَطَعَتْ قِيلَ وَكَيْفَ قَالَ لأَنَّهُمْ إِنْ مَدُّوهَا خَلَّيْتُهَا وَإِنْ خَلَّوْهَا مَدَدْتُهَا

40 روضة العقلاء لابن حبان لو أن بيني وبين الناس شعرة ما انقطعت