For man, praise and glory reside in virtuous and noble
qualities; honour and distinction in nearness to the divine Threshold. The
world's wealth is, by contrast, the stuff of illusion. [cf. Qur'án, 3:185 and
57:20] Those who lust after it are the followers of evil and, erelong, they
shall be plunged into confusion and despair. Which is better -- that a man
should be thus, or that he should comport himself with consecration and
sanctity of purpose and stand out conspicuously for his integrity, uprightness
and honesty? Nay, such qualities are better than the riches of Korah, [1] and
dearer than all the treasures of existence.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a Tablet; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Trustworthiness: A Cardinal Bahá'í Virtue)
[1] Name synonymous with great wealth, mentioned (in the
form 'Qar'un') in the Qur'án, 28:76
