…that which leads to everlasting life, eternal honour,
universal enlightenment, and true success and salvation is, first and foremost,
the knowledge of God. It is clear that this knowledge takes precedence over
every other knowledge and constitutes the greatest virtue of the human world.
For the understanding of the reality of things confers a material advantage in
the realm of being and brings about the progress of outward civilization, but
the knowledge of God is the cause of spiritual progress and attraction, true
vision and insight, the exaltation of humanity, the appearance of divine
civilization, the rectification of morals, and the illumination of the
conscience.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha;
‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised translation by the Baha’i World
Centre)
