One can hardly imagine what a great influence genuine love,
truthfulness and purity of motives exert on the souls of men. But these traits
cannot be acquired by any believer unless he makes a daily effort to gain
them... It is primarily through the potency of noble deeds and character,
rather than by the power of exposition and proofs, that the friends of God
should demonstrate to the world that what has been promised by God is bound to
happen, that it is already taking place and that the divine glad-tidings are
clear, evident and complete.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 19 December 1923 written by Shoghi
Effendi to the Bahá'ís of the East - translated from the Persian; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
