Drop by Drop

"When one is released from the prison of self, that is indeed freedom! For self is the greatest prison. When this release takes place one can never be imprisoned. Unless one accepts dire vicissitudes, not with dull resignation, but with radiant acquiescence, one cannot attain this freedom."

"Abdu'l-Baha was once asked, 'What is Satan?' He replied in three words: 'The insistent self'."

"When a reporter of the New York Globe visited 'Abdu'l-Baha in Haifa, He gave her this message: 'Tell my followers that they have no enemies to fear, no foes to hate. Man's only enemy is himself."

"Self-love is a strange trait and the means of destruction of many important souls in the world. If man be imbued with all good qualities but be selfish, all the other virtues will fade or pass away and eventually he will grow worse."

"...ye must die to yourselves and to the world, so shall ye be born again and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Behold a candle how it gives its light. It weeps its life away drop by drop in order to give forth its flame of light."

[Excerpts from Vignettes from the life of 'Abdu'l-Baha]