There are some who imagine that an innate sense of human
dignity will prevent man from committing evil actions and insure his spiritual
and material perfection. That is, that an individual who is characterized with
natural intelligence, high resolve, and a driving zeal, will, without any
consideration for the severe punishments consequent on evil acts, or for the
great rewards of righteousness, instinctively refrain from inflicting harm on
his fellow men and will hunger and thirst to do good. And yet, if we ponder the
lessons of history it will become evident that this very sense of honor and
dignity is itself one of the bounties deriving from the instructions of the
Prophets of God. We also observe in infants the signs of aggression and
lawlessness, and that if a child is deprived of a teacher's instructions his
undesirable qualities increase from one moment to the next. It is therefore
clear that the emergence of this natural sense of human dignity and honor is
the result of education. Secondly, even if we grant for the sake of the
argument that instinctive intelligence and an innate moral quality would
prevent wrongdoing, it is obvious that individuals so characterized are as rare
as the philosopher's stone. An assumption of this sort cannot be validated by
mere words, it must be supported by the facts. Let us see what power in
creation impels the masses toward righteous aims and deeds! Aside from this, if
that rare individual who does exemplify such a faculty should also become an
embodiment of the fear of God, it is certain that his strivings toward
righteousness would be strongly reinforced.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, "The Secret of
Divine Civilization’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Baha’i Education
)
