…the advancement of civilization, material perfections and
human virtues will bear no fruit or result unless joined to the spiritual
perfections; merciful qualities and sound morals, and the happiness of the
human world, which is the original goal, will not be attained. For although
through the advancement of civilization and the adornment and refinement of the
material world, happiness is realized, and the sight of hopes fulfilled in
perfect beauty wins the heart, yet, concomitantly, great dangers, severe
ordeals and awful catastrophes are involved.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, Star
of the West, vol. 6, no. 9, August 20, 1915)
