Post by ironhold on Sept 25, 2014 18:36:01 GMT
As suggested elsewhere, here is a thread for people to post ideas and receive feedback.
**
I'm attempting to come up with a random, preassembled list of citations (sorted by topic) for the religion page of the paper I'm with. I have a limit of 100 - 200 words per edition, hence the word counts in brackets next to each citation.
I presently have citations from the KJV translation of the Bible, several LDS scriptures, and statements from officials in the Baha'i faith in an effort to go multi-cultural.
How do these quotes sound?
Thanks.
Character:
“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” – James 2:15-17 [58]
“He hopes that you will develop into Bahá'ís in character as well as in belief. The whole purpose of Bahá'u'lláh is that we should become a new kind of people, people who are upright, kind, intelligent, truthful, and honest and who live according to His great laws laid down for this new epoch in man's development. To call ourselves Bahá'ís is not enough, our inmost being must become ennobled and enlightened through living a Bahá'í life.” - Shoghi Effendi [79]
“The happiness and greatness, the rank and station, the pleasure and peace, of an individual have never consisted in his personal wealth, but rather in his excellent character, his high resolve, the breadth of his learning, and his ability to solve difficult problems.” - The Secret of Divine Civilization [49]
Education:
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” - Proverbs 1:5 [22]
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." - Proverbs 4:7 [18]
"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." - Proverbs 9:9 [25]
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." - Romans 15:4 [26]
"But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." - 2 Nephi 9:29 [18]
"Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich." - Doctrine & Covenants 6:7 [38]
"And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." - Doctrine and Covenants 88:118 [41]
"And set in order the churches, and study and learn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people." - Doctrine & Covenants 90:15 [28]
"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth." - Doctrine & Covenants 93:36 [18]
“And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith;” - Doctrine and Covenants 109:7 [41]
“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” - Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19 [54]
“Man is not intended to see through the eyes of another, hear through another's ears nor comprehend with another's brain. Each human creature has individual endowment, power and responsibility in the creative plan of God. Therefore, depend upon your own reason and judgment and adhere to the outcome of your own investigation; otherwise, you will be utterly submerged in the sea of ignorance and deprived of all the bounties of God.” - The Promulgation of Universal Peace [77]
“No man should follow blindly his ancestors and forefathers. Nay, each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears and investigate independently in order that he may find the truth. The religion of forefathers and ancestors is based upon blind imitation. Man should investigate reality.” - Divine Philosophy [51]
“The individual should, prior to engaging in the study of any subject, ask himself what its uses are and what fruit and result will derive from it. If it is a useful branch of knowledge, that is, if society will gain important benefits from it, then he should certainly pursue it with all his heart. If not, if it consists in empty, profitless debates and in a vain concatenation of imaginings that lead to no result except acrimony, why devote one's life to such useless hairsplittings and disputes.” - The Secret of Divine Civilization [94]
Friendship:
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17 [15]
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” – Proverbs 18:24 [22]
“Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:” - Proverbs 22:24 [19]
“Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.” – Proverbs 27:10 [36]
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13 [19]
“Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.” – Jacob 2:17 [27]
“And let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practice virtue and holiness before me.” – Doctrine & Covenants 38:24 [20]
“Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.” – Doctrine and Covenants 88:133 [77]
“Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.” – Doctrine & Covenants 108:7 [25]
“There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness.” – Thomas S. Monson, President, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [26]
“Wherefore, O ye beloved of the Lord, bestir yourselves, do all in your power to be as one, to live in peace, each with the others: for ye are all the drops from but one ocean, the foliage of one tree, the pearls from a single shell, the flowers and sweet herbs from the same one garden.” - Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha [64]
Happiness
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23 [24]
“Happiness consists of two kinds; physical and spiritual. The physical happiness is limited; its utmost duration is one day, one month, one year. It hath no result. Spiritual happiness is eternal and unfathomable. This kind of happiness appeareth in one's soul with the love of God and suffereth one to attain to the virtues and perfections of the world of humanity. Therefore, endeavor as much as thou art able in order to illuminate the lamp of thy heart by the light of love.” -Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha, vol.3 [87]
“My hope is that you may become free from the material world and strive to understand the meaning of the heavenly world, the world of lasting qualities, the world of truth, the world of eternal kingliness, so that your life may not be barren of results, for the life of the material man has no fruit of reality. Lasting results are produced by reflecting the heavenly existence. If a man become touched with the divine spark, even though he be an outcast and oppressed, he will be happy and his happiness cannot die.” - Divine Philosophy [96]
“If a man is successful in his business, art, or profession he is thereby enabled to increase his physical well being and to give his body the amount of ease and comfort in which it delights. All around us today we see how man surrounds himself with every modern convenience and luxury, and denies nothing to the physical and material side of his nature. But, take heed, lest in thinking too earnestly of the things of the body you forget the things of the soul: for material advantages do not elevate the spirit of a man. Perfection in worldly things is a joy to the body of a man but in no wise does it glorify his soul.” - ‘Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks” [123]
“Anybody can be happy in the state of comfort, ease, health, success, pleasure and joy; but if one will be happy and contented in the time of trouble, hardship and prevailing disease, it is the proof of nobility.” - Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha, vol.2 [43]
Love
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” - John 13:34 [26]
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” - Ephesians 5:25 [19]
“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:9 [28]
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” - 1 John 4:20 [40]
Peace
“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” - Psalms 34:14 [14]
“All prejudices, whether of religion, race, politics or nation, must be renounced, for these prejudices have caused the world's sickness. It is a grave malady which, unless arrested, is capable of causing the destruction of the whole human race. Every ruinous war, with its terrible bloodshed and misery, has been caused by one or other of these prejudices.” - ‘Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks” [63]
“Religious fanaticism and hatred are a world-devouring fire, whose violence none can quench. The Hand of Divine power can, alone, deliver mankind from this desolating affliction.” - Epistle to the Son of the Wolf [34]
Pride
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” - Proverbs 8:13 [26]
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” - Proverbs 16:18 [14]
“See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength.” - Alma 38:11 [28]
“A man who does great good, and talks not of it, is on the way to perfection. The man who has accomplished a small good and magnifies it in his speech is worth very little.” - ‘Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks” [40]
“Let us therefore be humble, without prejudices, preferring others' good to our own! Let us never say, 'I am a believer but he is an infidel', 'I am near to God, whilst he is an outcast'. We can never know what will be the final judgment! Therefore let us help all who are in need of any kind of assistance. Let us teach the ignorant, and take care of the young child until he grows to maturity. When we find a person fallen into the depths of misery or sin we must be kind to him, take him by the hand, help him to regain his footing, his strength; we must guide him with love and tenderness, treat him as a friend not as an enemy. We have no right to look upon any of our fellow-mortals as evil.” - ‘Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks” [144]
Trials:
“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility”. - 2 Nephi 2:11 [81]
“And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” - Alma 38:5 [52]
“And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” - Ether 12:6 [49]
“Unless one accepts dire vicissitudes, he will not attain. To me prison is freedom, troubles rest me, death is life, and to be despised is honour. Therefore, I was happy all that time in prison. When one is released from the prison of self, that is indeed release, for that is the greater prison. When this release takes place, then one cannot be outwardly imprisoned.” - Abdu'l-Baha in London [69]
“We all have our petty material obstacles in this life. We cannot totally get rid of them. The best thing to do, after all our efforts have failed to deliver us, is to concentrate on that which can alone bring real happiness and peace to our heart. And you should be thankful to God for having enabled you to recognize and accept His Faith. For this is, assuredly, the only source of joy and consolation you can have in your moments of suffering. Is there anything more worthwhile to work for than the Teachings of the Message?” - Shoghi Effendi [100]
Virtue:
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” - Proverbs 31:10 [16]
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” - Philippians 4:8 [46]
“Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.” – Doctrine & Covenants 4:6 [16]
“For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.” – Doctrine & Covenants 88:40 [57]
Temporarily uncategorized:
“We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reactions.” - From a paper presented by the Bahá'í International Community to the Summit on the Alliance Between Religions and Conservation, 6 April 1995 [89]
“In order to find truth we must give up our prejudices, our own small trivial notions; an open receptive mind is essential. If our chalice is full of self, there is no room in it for the water of life. The fact that we imagine ourselves to be right and everybody else wrong is the greatest of all obstacles in the path towards unity, and unity is necessary if we would reach truth, for truth is one.” - Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks" [81]
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” - 2 Timothy 2:22 [26]
**
I'm attempting to come up with a random, preassembled list of citations (sorted by topic) for the religion page of the paper I'm with. I have a limit of 100 - 200 words per edition, hence the word counts in brackets next to each citation.
I presently have citations from the KJV translation of the Bible, several LDS scriptures, and statements from officials in the Baha'i faith in an effort to go multi-cultural.
How do these quotes sound?
Thanks.
Character:
“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” – James 2:15-17 [58]
“He hopes that you will develop into Bahá'ís in character as well as in belief. The whole purpose of Bahá'u'lláh is that we should become a new kind of people, people who are upright, kind, intelligent, truthful, and honest and who live according to His great laws laid down for this new epoch in man's development. To call ourselves Bahá'ís is not enough, our inmost being must become ennobled and enlightened through living a Bahá'í life.” - Shoghi Effendi [79]
“The happiness and greatness, the rank and station, the pleasure and peace, of an individual have never consisted in his personal wealth, but rather in his excellent character, his high resolve, the breadth of his learning, and his ability to solve difficult problems.” - The Secret of Divine Civilization [49]
Education:
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” - Proverbs 1:5 [22]
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." - Proverbs 4:7 [18]
"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." - Proverbs 9:9 [25]
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." - Romans 15:4 [26]
"But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." - 2 Nephi 9:29 [18]
"Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich." - Doctrine & Covenants 6:7 [38]
"And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." - Doctrine and Covenants 88:118 [41]
"And set in order the churches, and study and learn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people." - Doctrine & Covenants 90:15 [28]
"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth." - Doctrine & Covenants 93:36 [18]
“And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith;” - Doctrine and Covenants 109:7 [41]
“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” - Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19 [54]
“Man is not intended to see through the eyes of another, hear through another's ears nor comprehend with another's brain. Each human creature has individual endowment, power and responsibility in the creative plan of God. Therefore, depend upon your own reason and judgment and adhere to the outcome of your own investigation; otherwise, you will be utterly submerged in the sea of ignorance and deprived of all the bounties of God.” - The Promulgation of Universal Peace [77]
“No man should follow blindly his ancestors and forefathers. Nay, each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears and investigate independently in order that he may find the truth. The religion of forefathers and ancestors is based upon blind imitation. Man should investigate reality.” - Divine Philosophy [51]
“The individual should, prior to engaging in the study of any subject, ask himself what its uses are and what fruit and result will derive from it. If it is a useful branch of knowledge, that is, if society will gain important benefits from it, then he should certainly pursue it with all his heart. If not, if it consists in empty, profitless debates and in a vain concatenation of imaginings that lead to no result except acrimony, why devote one's life to such useless hairsplittings and disputes.” - The Secret of Divine Civilization [94]
Friendship:
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17 [15]
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” – Proverbs 18:24 [22]
“Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:” - Proverbs 22:24 [19]
“Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.” – Proverbs 27:10 [36]
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13 [19]
“Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.” – Jacob 2:17 [27]
“And let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practice virtue and holiness before me.” – Doctrine & Covenants 38:24 [20]
“Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.” – Doctrine and Covenants 88:133 [77]
“Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings.” – Doctrine & Covenants 108:7 [25]
“There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness.” – Thomas S. Monson, President, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [26]
“Wherefore, O ye beloved of the Lord, bestir yourselves, do all in your power to be as one, to live in peace, each with the others: for ye are all the drops from but one ocean, the foliage of one tree, the pearls from a single shell, the flowers and sweet herbs from the same one garden.” - Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha [64]
Happiness
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23 [24]
“Happiness consists of two kinds; physical and spiritual. The physical happiness is limited; its utmost duration is one day, one month, one year. It hath no result. Spiritual happiness is eternal and unfathomable. This kind of happiness appeareth in one's soul with the love of God and suffereth one to attain to the virtues and perfections of the world of humanity. Therefore, endeavor as much as thou art able in order to illuminate the lamp of thy heart by the light of love.” -Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha, vol.3 [87]
“My hope is that you may become free from the material world and strive to understand the meaning of the heavenly world, the world of lasting qualities, the world of truth, the world of eternal kingliness, so that your life may not be barren of results, for the life of the material man has no fruit of reality. Lasting results are produced by reflecting the heavenly existence. If a man become touched with the divine spark, even though he be an outcast and oppressed, he will be happy and his happiness cannot die.” - Divine Philosophy [96]
“If a man is successful in his business, art, or profession he is thereby enabled to increase his physical well being and to give his body the amount of ease and comfort in which it delights. All around us today we see how man surrounds himself with every modern convenience and luxury, and denies nothing to the physical and material side of his nature. But, take heed, lest in thinking too earnestly of the things of the body you forget the things of the soul: for material advantages do not elevate the spirit of a man. Perfection in worldly things is a joy to the body of a man but in no wise does it glorify his soul.” - ‘Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks” [123]
“Anybody can be happy in the state of comfort, ease, health, success, pleasure and joy; but if one will be happy and contented in the time of trouble, hardship and prevailing disease, it is the proof of nobility.” - Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha, vol.2 [43]
Love
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” - John 13:34 [26]
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” - Ephesians 5:25 [19]
“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:9 [28]
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” - 1 John 4:20 [40]
Peace
“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” - Psalms 34:14 [14]
“All prejudices, whether of religion, race, politics or nation, must be renounced, for these prejudices have caused the world's sickness. It is a grave malady which, unless arrested, is capable of causing the destruction of the whole human race. Every ruinous war, with its terrible bloodshed and misery, has been caused by one or other of these prejudices.” - ‘Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks” [63]
“Religious fanaticism and hatred are a world-devouring fire, whose violence none can quench. The Hand of Divine power can, alone, deliver mankind from this desolating affliction.” - Epistle to the Son of the Wolf [34]
Pride
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” - Proverbs 8:13 [26]
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” - Proverbs 16:18 [14]
“See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength.” - Alma 38:11 [28]
“A man who does great good, and talks not of it, is on the way to perfection. The man who has accomplished a small good and magnifies it in his speech is worth very little.” - ‘Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks” [40]
“Let us therefore be humble, without prejudices, preferring others' good to our own! Let us never say, 'I am a believer but he is an infidel', 'I am near to God, whilst he is an outcast'. We can never know what will be the final judgment! Therefore let us help all who are in need of any kind of assistance. Let us teach the ignorant, and take care of the young child until he grows to maturity. When we find a person fallen into the depths of misery or sin we must be kind to him, take him by the hand, help him to regain his footing, his strength; we must guide him with love and tenderness, treat him as a friend not as an enemy. We have no right to look upon any of our fellow-mortals as evil.” - ‘Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks” [144]
Trials:
“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility”. - 2 Nephi 2:11 [81]
“And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” - Alma 38:5 [52]
“And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” - Ether 12:6 [49]
“Unless one accepts dire vicissitudes, he will not attain. To me prison is freedom, troubles rest me, death is life, and to be despised is honour. Therefore, I was happy all that time in prison. When one is released from the prison of self, that is indeed release, for that is the greater prison. When this release takes place, then one cannot be outwardly imprisoned.” - Abdu'l-Baha in London [69]
“We all have our petty material obstacles in this life. We cannot totally get rid of them. The best thing to do, after all our efforts have failed to deliver us, is to concentrate on that which can alone bring real happiness and peace to our heart. And you should be thankful to God for having enabled you to recognize and accept His Faith. For this is, assuredly, the only source of joy and consolation you can have in your moments of suffering. Is there anything more worthwhile to work for than the Teachings of the Message?” - Shoghi Effendi [100]
Virtue:
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” - Proverbs 31:10 [16]
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” - Philippians 4:8 [46]
“Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.” – Doctrine & Covenants 4:6 [16]
“For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.” – Doctrine & Covenants 88:40 [57]
Temporarily uncategorized:
“We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reactions.” - From a paper presented by the Bahá'í International Community to the Summit on the Alliance Between Religions and Conservation, 6 April 1995 [89]
“In order to find truth we must give up our prejudices, our own small trivial notions; an open receptive mind is essential. If our chalice is full of self, there is no room in it for the water of life. The fact that we imagine ourselves to be right and everybody else wrong is the greatest of all obstacles in the path towards unity, and unity is necessary if we would reach truth, for truth is one.” - Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks" [81]
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” - 2 Timothy 2:22 [26]
