O ye beloved of the Lord! The Kingdom of God is founded upon
equity and justice, and also upon mercy, compassion, and kindness to every
living soul. Strive ye then with all your heart to treat compassionately all
humankind—except for those who have some selfish, private motive, or some
disease of the soul. Kindness cannot be shown the tyrant, the deceiver, or the
thief, because, far from awakening them to the error of their ways, it maketh
them to continue in their perversity as before. No matter how much kindliness
ye may expend upon the liar, he will but lie the more, for he believeth you to
be deceived, while ye understand him but too well, and only remain silent out
of your extreme compassion.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha
(‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
