That mystic, all-pervasive, yet undefinable change, which we
associate with the stage of maturity inevitable in the life of the individual
and the development of the fruit, must, if we would correctly apprehend the
utterances of Bahá'u'lláh, have its counterpart in the evolution of the
organization of human society. A similar stage must sooner or later be attained
in the collective life of mankind, producing an even more striking phenomenon
in world relations, and endowing the whole human race with such potentialities
of well-being as shall provide, throughout the succeeding ages, the chief incentive
required tor the eventual fulfilment of its high destiny. Such a stage of
maturity in the process of human government must, for all time, if we would
faithfully recognize the tremendous claim advanced by Bahá'u'lláh, remain
identified with the Revelation of which He was the Bearer.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 11 March 1936, in The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh: Selected
Letters’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. III, Cultural Diversity in the
Age of Maturity)
