In the world of spirit there is no retrogression. The world
of mortality is a world of contradictions, of opposites; motion being
compulsory everything must either go forward or retreat. In the realm of spirit
there is no retreat possible, all movement is bound to be towards a perfect
state. ‘Progress’ is the expression of spirit in the world of matter. The
intelligence of man, his reasoning powers, his knowledge, his scientific
achievements, all these being manifestations of the spirit, partake of the
inevitable law of spiritual progress and are, therefore, of necessity,
immortal.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk; November 10, 1911, Paris; ‘Paris Talks’)
