He [Baha’u’llah] was
most generous, giving abundantly to the poor. None who came to Him were turned
away. The doors of His house were open to all. He always had many guests. This
unbounded generosity was conducive to greater astonishment from the fact that
He sought neither position nor prominence. In commenting upon this His friends
said He would become impoverished, for His expenses were many and His wealth
becoming more and more limited. "Why is he not thinking of his own
affairs?" they inquired of each other; but some who were wise declared,
"This personage is connected with another world; he has something sublime
within him that is not evident now; the day is coming when it will be
manifested." In truth, the Blessed Perfection was a refuge for every weak
one, a shelter for every fearing one, kind to every indigent one, lenient and
loving to all creatures.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha' (From a talk, 18 April 1912, New York; ‘The
Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His
Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
