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Nations & Just Governments

It is incumbent upon every man, in this Day, to hold fast unto whatsoever will promote the interests, and exalt the station, of all nations and just governments. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Baha’u’llah’s counsels for the world

…the counsels which the Pen of this wronged One hath revealed constitute the supreme animating power for the advancement of the world and the exaltation of its peoples. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Desiring “nearness of God”

If you desire the nearness of God, you must sever yourself from everything and become purified and sanctified from the dross of this transitory world. 
- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 19, Los Angeles, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

A Baha’i’s “ambition” in life

They who are the people of God have no ambition except to revive the world, to ennoble its life, and regenerate its peoples. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

The poor

Know ye that the poor are the trust of God in your midst.
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Suriy-i-Mulk [Tablet to the Kings]; ‘Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)

One’s glory

Know ye that a servant’s glory resideth in his nearness unto God…
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Suriy-i-Mulk [Tablet to the Kings]; ‘Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)

To polish the mirror of the heart

The most important thing is to polish the mirrors of hearts in order that they may become illumined and receptive of the divine light. 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk, New York, 14 April 1912; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)

The “ornament of every belief and its very foundation”

Blessed is the man that hath acknowledged his belief in God and in His signs, and recognized that “He shall not be asked of His doings”. Such a recognition hath been made by God the ornament of every belief and its very foundation. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

Anger

Should anyone wax angry with you, respond to him with gentleness; and should anyone upbraid you, forbear to upbraid him in return, but leave him to himself and put your trust in God, the omnipotent Avenger, the Lord of might and justice. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

Confirmations of Baha’u’llah

Be constantly attached to and seek always the confirmations of Bahá’u’lláh for these turn the drop into a sea and convert the gnat into an eagle.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)

Needs of the age we live in

Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Attracting heavenly blessings

Today the magnetic power that attracts heavenly blessings is teaching the Cause of God.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet to believers in Denver, USA, 1914; Star of the West, vol. 12, no. 11, September 27, 1921)

Obedience

Strengthen my heart, O my God, in Thine obedience and in Thy love… 
- The Báb  (‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb’)

Service

Hands of the Cause of God circa 1960
That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Peace)

To care for others

The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Peace)

“city of the human heart”

Open, O people, the city of the human heart with the key of your utterance . . . 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Not to sow seeds of discord

Sow not the seeds of discord among men, and refrain from contending with your neighbour . . . 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

To love God and His Manifestation

That which beseemeth you is the love of God, and the love of Him Who is the Manifestation of His Essence, and the observance of whatsoever He chooseth to prescribe unto you... 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Service

Happy the soul that shall forget his own good, and like the chosen ones of God, vie with his fellows in service to the good of all… 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘The Secret of Divine Civilization’)

One’s heart

The heart is a divine trust; cleanse it from the stain of self-love, adorn it with the coronal of pure intent… 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘The Secret of Divine Civilization’)

Consultation

In this Cause consultation is of vital importance, but spiritual conference and not the mere voicing of personal views is intended. 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’;The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Consultation)

The city of human heart

Open, O people, the city of the human heart with the key of your utterance...
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Spiritual growth

Become ye the manifestors of spiritual favors and the dawning-places of infinite lights! 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)

To love the whole world

It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Peace)

“become fully established in the Kingdom of God”

…attach not yourselves to the luxuries of this ephemeral world, free yourselves from every attachment, and strive with heart and soul to become fully established in the Kingdom of God. 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)

Praiseworthy deeds

…every praiseworthy deed is born out of the light of religion. 
- Baha’u’llah  ('Bahá'í Education', a compilation, 1976 World Centre edition)

To become more illumined

Day by day become ye more illumined. Draw ye nearer and nearer unto the threshold of oneness. Become ye the manifestors of spiritual favors and the dawning-places of infinite lights! 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)

Steadfastness

I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by Thy mercy that hath surpassed the entire creation, and Thy generosity that hath embraced all created things, to cause me to turn my face wholly towards Thee, and to seek Thy shelter, and to be steadfast in my love for Thee. 
- Baha'u'llah  ('Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah')

Becoming an angel

Indeed, if man is abandoned to the rule of nature, he sinks even lower than the animal, whereas if he is educated he becomes even as an angel. 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised translation by the Baha’i World Center)

Connecting our hearts to Baha’u’llah

O Son of Being! My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is safe and secure, and he that turneth away shall surely stray and perish. 
- Baha'u'llah  ('The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah')

Humility & self-effacing

A man must never consider himself greater than others. Rather, he must always be humble and self-effacing. 
- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 24 Denver 1912, Lincoln, USA; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

The Day of God

The purpose underlying all creation is the revelation of this most sublime, this most holy Day, the Day known as the Day of God, in His Books and Scriptures... 
- Baha’u’llah  (Quoted by Shoghi Effendi in a letter dated December 25, 1935; ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’)

Not to harm any soul

Beware lest ye harm any soul, or make any heart to sorrow; lest ye wound any man with your words, be he known to you or a stranger, be he friend or foe. Pray ye for all; ask ye that all be blessed, all be forgiven. 
- ‘Abdu'l-Baha  (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Baha)

To “serve as a divine physician”

If in this day a soul shall act according to the precepts and the counsels of God, he will serve as a divine physician to mankind... 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’)

“goodly deeds and a righteous character”

God hath, verily, willed that His Cause should be assisted by the hosts of goodly deeds and a righteous character. 
- Baha’u’llah  (The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Trustworthiness)

Courtesy

Well is it with him who is illumined with the light of courtesy and is attired with the vesture of uprightness. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

“The Purpose of the one true God…in revealing Himself unto men…”

The Purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, in revealing Himself unto men is to lay bare those gems that lie hidden within the mine of their true and inmost selves. 
- Baha'u'llah  (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah)

"speaking well of another"

If… a person setteth about speaking well of another, opening his lips to praise another, he will touch an answering chord in his hearers and they will be stirred up by the breathings of God. 
- ‘Abdu'l-Baha  ('Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha’)

The Obligatory Prayers

The Obligatory Prayers are binding inasmuch as they are conducive to humility and submissiveness, to setting one's face towards God and expressing devotion to Him. 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; compilation: ‘The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice; The American Baha’i September 2000)

“inner and outer perfections”

Strain every nerve to acquire both inner and outer perfections, for the fruit of the human tree hath ever been and will ever be perfections both within and without. 
- Baha’u’llah  (The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. I, Excellence in All Things)

Duty to teach

God hath prescribed unto everyone the duty of teaching His Cause. 
- Baha’u’llah  (Quoted by Shoghi Effendi in a letter dated 25 December 1938; ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’)

Sin-covering eye

If ye become aware of a sin committed by another, conceal it, that God may conceal your own sin.  
- Baha'u'llah  (‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)

Fire of the love of God

O Friends! You must all be so ablaze in this day with the fire of the love of God that the heat thereof may be manifest in all your veins, your limbs and members of your body…
- Bahá’u’lláh  (Compilation: ‘The Individual and Teaching – Raising the Divine Call’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)

Fasting & Obligatory Prayer

Verily, the religion of God is like unto heaven; fasting is its sun, and obligatory prayer is its moon. In truth, they are the pillars of religion… 
- Baha’u’llah  (Compilation: 'The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting', prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)

“man’s highest distinction”

man’s highest distinction is to be lowly before and obedient to his God. 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘The Secret of Divine Civilization’)

Propagation of the Faith of God

Center your energies in the propagation of the Faith of God. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Religion

Religion is the light of the world, and the progress, achievement, and happiness of man result from obedience to the laws set down in the holy Books. 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘The Secret of Divine Civilization’)

Not to pollute the tongue

The tongue hath been created to bear witness to God; pollute it not with the mention of the wayward. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘The Tabernacle of Unity’)

The wholesome medicine

These are not days of prosperity and triumph. The whole of mankind is in the grip of manifold ills. Strive, therefore, to save its life through the wholesome medicine which the almighty hand of the unerring Physician hath prepared. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Pure deeds

O servants! Be pure in your deeds, and conduct yourselves in accordance with the words of God. Such are the counsels of the incomparable Lord. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘The Tabernacle of Unity’)

How to interact with other religions

Consort with all religions with amity and concord, that they may inhale from you the sweet fragrance of God. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

Music

We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may be lifted up unto the realm on high… 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)