The first Taráz and the first effulgence which hath dawned
from the horizon of the Mother Book is that man should know his own self and
recognise that which leadeth unto loftiness or lowliness, glory or abasement,
wealth or poverty. Having attained the stage of fulfilment and reached his
maturity, man standeth in need of wealth, and such wealth as he acquireth
through crafts or professions is commendable and praise-worthy in the
estimation of men of wisdom, and especially in the eyes of servants who
dedicate themselves to the education of the world and to the edification of its
peoples. They are, in truth, cup-bearers of the life-giving water of knowledge
and guides unto the ideal way. They direct the peoples of the world to the
straight path and acquaint them with that which is conducive to human
upliftment and exaltation. - Bahá'u'lláh (Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh revealed after
the Kitáb-i-Aqdas; The Compilation of
Compilations, vol. III, Social and Economic Development)
