That seeker must at all times put his trust in God, must
renounce the peoples of the earth, detach himself from the world of dust, and
cleave unto Him Who is the Lord of Lords. He must never seek to exalt himself
above any one, must wash away from the tablet of his heart every trace of pride
and vainglory, must cling unto patience and resignation, observe silence, and
refrain from idle talk. For the tongue is a smouldering fire, and excess of
speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of
the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but
for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endure a century.
(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan)
(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan)
