I give you my advice, and it is this: Train these children
with divine exhortations. From their childhood instill in their hearts the love
of God so they may manifest in their lives the fear of God and have confidence
in the bestowals of God. Teach them to free themselves from human imperfections
and to acquire the divine perfections latent in the heart of man. The life of
man is useful if he attains the perfections of man. If he becomes the center of
the imperfections of the world of humanity, death is better than life, and
nonexistence better than existence. Therefore, make ye an effort in order that
these children may be rightly trained and educated and that each of them may
attain perfection in the world of humanity. Know ye the value of these children
for they are all my children.
('Abdu'l-Baha, 'The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks
Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in
1912"; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Baha’i Education)
