By the righteousness of God! The world, its vanities and its
glory, and whatever delights it can offer, are all, in the sight of God, as
worthless as, nay even more contemptible than, dust and ashes. Would that the
hearts of men could comprehend it. Wash yourselves thoroughly, O people of
Bahá, from the defilement of the world, and of all that pertaineth unto it. God
Himself beareth Me witness! The things of the earth ill beseem you. Cast them
away unto such as may desire them, and fasten your eyes upon this most holy and
effulgent Vision.
(Baha’u’llah, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Advent of
Divine Justice’)
