…it is our duty to put forth our greatest efforts and summon
all our energies in order that the bonds of unity and accord may be established
among mankind. For thousands of years we have had bloodshed and strife. It is
enough; it is sufficient. Now is the time to associate together in love and
harmony. For thousands of years we have tried the sword and warfare; let
mankind for a time at least live in peace. Review history and consider how much
savagery, how much bloodshed and battle the world has witnessed. It has been
either religious warfare, political warfare or some other clash of human
interests. The world of humanity has never enjoyed the blessing of universal
peace.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk at Columbia University, New York, 19 April 1912; ‘The Promulgation
of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the
United States and Canada in 1912’)
