When people of the West become wealthy,
they begin to collect antique objects in order to render a service to the world
of art. But when Persians become wealthy, they keep one hundred horses in their
stables, give themselves up to pomp and show, engage themselves in satiating
their selfish desires. But in comparison with service to the Cause, both
attitudes are barren, producing no result. For example, if the effort these
people put into gathering these objects, and the millions of dollars spent acquiring
them, were employed for the Cause of God, their stars of happiness and
prosperity would shine evermore from the horizon of both worlds. If in this
city they brought ten persons into the Cause of God, it would gain momentum and
would become the cause of eternal honor and happiness as well as the source of
everlasting life.
(Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 19 September 1912, Minneapolis, USA; ‘Mahmud’s
Diary’)
