Train your children from their earliest days to be
infinitely tender and loving to animals. If an animal be sick, let the children
try to heal it, if it be hungry, let them feed it, if thirsty, let them quench
its thirst, if weary, let them see that it rests…. all except animals which are
harmful, such as bloodthirsty wolves, such as poisonous snakes, and similar
pernicious creatures, the reason being that kindness to these is an injustice
to human beings and to other animals as well. If, for example, ye be
tender-hearted toward a wolf, this is but tyranny to a sheep, for a wolf will
destroy a whole flock of sheep. A rabid dog, if given the chance, can kill a
thousand animals and men. Therefore, compassion shown to wild and ravening
beasts is cruelty to the peaceful ones—and so the harmful must be dealt with.
But to blessed animals the utmost kindness must be shown, the more the better.
Tenderness and loving-kindness are basic principles of God’s heavenly Kingdom.
Ye should most carefully bear this matter in mind.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings
of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
