There is not one soul whose conscience does not testify that
in this day there is no more important matter in the world than that of
universal peace. Every just one bears witness to this and adores that esteemed
Assembly because its aim is that this darkness may be changed into light, this
bloodthirstiness into kindness, this torment into bliss, this hardship into
ease and this enmity and hatred into fellowship and love. Therefore, the effort
of those esteemed souls is worthy of praise and commendation.
But the wise souls who are aware of the essential
relationships emanating from the realities of things consider that one single
matter cannot, by itself, influence the human reality as it ought and should,
for until the minds of men become united, no important matter can be
accomplished. At present universal peace is a matter of great importance, but
unity of conscience is essential, so that the foundation of this matter may
become secure, its establishment firm and its edifice strong.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From
first Tablet to the Hague, dated 17 December 1919; Revised translation by the
Baha’i World Center; Online Baha’i Reference Library)
