Humbleness

O Son of Man!  Humble thyself before Me, that I may graciously visit thee.

- Baha’u’llah  (‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)

A “pure, kindly and radiant heart”

O Son of Spirit! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting. 

- Baha’u’llah  (‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)

True liberty

Mankind in its entirety must firmly adhere to whatsoever hath been revealed and vouchsafed unto it. Then and only then will it attain unto true liberty. 

- Baha’u’llah  (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)

Spiritual civilization

Material civilization is like unto the lamp, while spiritual civilization is the light in that lamp. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk on 14 April 1912, Church of the Ascension, New York; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)

Lamp of religion

Should the lamp of religion be obscured, chaos and confusion will ensue, and the lights of fairness and justice, of tranquillity and peace cease to shine. 

- Baha’u’llah  (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

Courtesy

We, verily, have chosen courtesy, and made it the true mark of such as are nigh unto Him. Courtesy is, in truth, a raiment which fitteth all men, whether young or old.  

- Baha'u'llah  (Tablet to Napoleon III, Suriy-i-Haykal [Tablet of Temple]; ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)

Religion

In truth, religion is a radiant light and an impregnable stronghold for the protection and welfare of the peoples of the world… 

- Baha’u’llah  (‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

Brotherhood

No brotherhood appears in the world as lasting save that of the spiritual type. 

- 'Abdu'l-Bahá  (From a talk, Montreal, Canada, 4 September 1912; Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 11, September 1917)

Truthfulness & Courtesy

Let truthfulness and courtesy be your adorning. 

- Baha’u’llah  (Quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’)

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)