As charitable works become praiseworthy, people often
perform them merely for the sake of fame and to gain benefit for themselves, as
well as to attract people's admiration. But this does not render needless the
teachings of the Prophets because it is spiritual morals that are the cause of
training one's innate nature and of personal progress. Thus will people offer
service to one another with all their hearts for the sake of God and in order
to fulfill the duties of devotion to Him and service to humanity and not for
the purpose of acquiring praise and fame. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from an address,
August 1, 1912, Dublin, USA; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)