All we know is that the Lesser and the Most Great Peace will
come -- their exact dates we do not know. The same is true as regards the
possibility of a future war; we cannot state dogmatically it will or will not
take place -- all we know is that mankind must suffer and be punished
sufficiently to make it turn to God.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 1946 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer quoted by the Universal
House of Justice in a letter dated 29 July 1974; The Compilation of
Compilations vol. II)
