Freedom
Consider the pettiness of men's minds. They ask for that which injureth them, and cast away the thing that profiteth them. They are, indeed, of those that are far astray. We find some men desiring liberty, and priding themselves therein. Such men are in the depths of ignorance.
- Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 335
Happy is the man that hath apprehended the Purpose of God in whatever He hath revealed from the Heaven of His Will, that pervadeth all created things.
- Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 335
Know ye that the embodiment of liberty and its symbol is the animal. That which beseemeth man is submission unto such restraints as will protect him from his own ignorance, and guard him against the harm of the mischief-maker. Liberty causeth man to overstep the bounds of propriety, and to infringe on the dignity of his station. It debaseth him to the level of extreme depravity and wickedness.
- Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 335-336
Liberty must, in the end, lead to sedition, whose flames none can quench. Thus warneth you He Who is the Reckoner, the All-Knowing.
- Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 335-336
The liberty that profiteth you is to be found nowhere except in complete servitude unto God, the Eternal Truth. Whoso hath tasted of its sweetness will refuse to barter it for all the dominion of earth and heaven.
- Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 335
True liberty consisteth in man's submission unto My commandments, little as ye know it.
- Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 335
We approve of liberty in certain circumstances, and refuse to sanction it in others. We, verily, are the All-Knowing.
- Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 335
Were men to observe that which We have sent down unto them from the Heaven of Revelation, they would, of a certainty, attain unto perfect liberty.
- Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 335
Freedom is not a matter of place. It is a condition. I was thankful for the prison, and the lack of liberty was very pleasing to me, for those days were passed in the path of service, under the utmost difficulties and trials, bearing fruits and results. Unless one accepts dire vicissitudes, he will not attain. To me prison is freedom, troubles rest me, death is life, and to be despised is honour. Therefore, I was happy all that time in prison.
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p. 120
The laws do not represent a sterile and inhumane legal code, but rather the divine prescription , a definition of how an individual must act in order to achieve true freedom and spiritual happiness in this world and the next.
- From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, Letters of The Universal House of Justice, 1993 Jun 05, Homosexuality
The Peerless Beloved says! The way of freedom is opened. Hasten ye. The fountain of knowledge is gushing, drink ye.
- Compilations, Bahá’í Scriptures, p. 132
Quote of the Day
Kamal 13 Ilm 182 B.E.
Assemblies should not underestimate the depth of emotional attachment of which teens are capable. Because the teenage years are a time when young people normally initiate the process of establishing independence, they may be reluctant to seek help, may feel that they have no one to turn to for help, or may be embarrassed or afraid to admit to anyone that they are in trouble.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States – Guidelines for Spiritual Assemblies on Domestic Violence, p. 99