To categorize (from Lights of Guidance)[edit]
An Unwise Act or Statement[edit]
"...an unwise act or statement by a Bahá'í in one country could result in a grave set-back for the Faith there or elsewhere--and even loss of the lives of fellow believers."
- (From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, December 8, 1967: Wellspring of Guidance, p. 131, in Lights of Guidance, no. 316)
Suppress Every Critical Thought and Every Harsh Word[edit]
"When we see the condition the world is in today, we must surely forget these utterly insignificant internal disturbances, and rush, unitedly, to the rescue of humanity. You should urge your fellow-Bahá'ís to take this point of view, and to support you in a strong effort to suppress every critical thought and every harsh word, in order to let the spirit of Bahá'u'lláh flow into the entire community, and unite it in His love and in His service."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 16, 1951: Living the Life, p. 17, in Lights of Guidance, no. 315)
Personal Differences and Petty Pre-Occupations[edit]
"He feels that you should do your utmost to call the attention of the friends to these large things, and real triumphs, and away from their personal differences and petty pre-occupations. Now is certainly not the time for any man to think of himself, or busy himself with the weaknesses of his brother; but, rather each and every Bahá'í must concentrate on the tasks ahead and be reborn in the service of Bahá'u'lláh."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the Area National Teaching Committee (U.S.A., in Lights of Guidance, no. 317), July 17, 1950: Bahá'í News, October 1970, p. 3)
Like Ploughmen Each Has His Team to Manage[edit]
"...Each of us is responsible for one life only, and that is our own. Each of us is immeasurably far from being 'perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect' and the task of perfecting our own life and character is one that requires all our attention, our will-power and energy. If we allow our attention and energy to be taken up in efforts to keep others right and remedy their faults, we are wasting precious time. We are like ploughmen each of whom has his team to manage and his plough to direct, and in order to keep his furrow straight he must keep his eye on his goal and concentrate on his own task. If he looks to this side and that to see how Tom and Harry are getting on and to criticise their ploughing, then his own furrow will assuredly become crooked."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, May 12, 1925: Living the Life, pp. 2-3, in Lights of Guidance, no. 318)
Be a Friend to the Whole Human Race[edit]
"One must see in every human being only that which is worthy of praise. When this is done, one can be a friend to the whole human race. If, however, we look at people from the standpoint of their faults, then being a friend to them is a formidable task."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 169, in Lights of Guidance, no. 319)
