O ye believers of God! Be not concerned with the smallness
of your numbers, neither be oppressed by the multitude of an unbelieving world.
Five grains of wheat will be endued with heavenly blessing, whereas a thousand
tons of tares will yield no results or effect. One fruitful tree will be
conducive to the life of society, whereas a thousand forests of wild trees
offer no fruits. The plain is covered with pebbles, but precious stones are
rare. One pearl is better than a thousand wildernesses of sand, especially this
pearl of great price, which is endowed with divine blessing. Erelong thousands
of other pearls will be born from it. When that pearl associates and becomes
the intimate of the pebbles, they also all change into pearls.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)
