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’)
