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There are certain fundamental concepts that all should bear in mind. One is the
centrality of knowledge to social existence. The perpetuation of ignorance is a
most grievous form of oppression; it reinforces the many walls of prejudice that
stand as barriers to the realization of the oneness of humankind, at once the goal
and operating principle of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation. Access to knowledge is the

right of every human being, and participation in its generation, application and
diffusion a responsibility that all must shoulder in the great enterprise of
building a prosperous world civilization—each individual according to his or her
talents and abilities. Justice demands universal participation.

The Universal House of Justice, To the Bahá’ís of the World, Ridván 2010

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Regarding reciprocity and cooperation, each member of the body politic should
live in the utmost comfort and welfare because each individual member of
humanity is a member of the body politic, and if one member is in distress or is

af icted with some disease, all the other members must necessarily suffer. For
example, a member of the human organism is the eye. If the eye should be
affected, that af iction would affect the whole nervous system. Hence, if a
member of the body politic becomes af icted, in reality, from the standpoint of
sympathetic connection, all will share that af iction since this [one af icted] is a

member of the group of members, a part of the whole. Is it possible for one
member or part to be in distress and the other members to be at ease? It is
impossible! Hence, God has desired that in the body politic of humanity each one
shall enjoy perfect welfare and comfort.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace

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The world of politics is like the world of man; he is seed at rst, and then passes
by degrees to the condition of embryo and foetus, acquiring a bone structure,
being clothed with esh, taking on his own special form, until at last he reaches

the plane where he can be ttingly ful ll the words: “the most excellent of

National Institutional Meeting - South Africa - Mulk 178 B.E

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