For desire is a flame that has reduced to ashes uncounted lifetime harvests
of the learned, a devouring fire that even the vast sea of their
accumulated knowledge could never quench. How often has it happened that
an individual who was graced with every attribute of humanity and wore
the jewel of true understanding, nevertheless followed after his
passions until his excellent qualities passed beyond moderation and he
was forced into excess. His pure intentions changed to evil ones, his
attributes were no longer put to uses worthy of them, and the power of
his desires turned him aside from righteousness and its rewards into
ways that were dangerous and dark. A good character is in the sight of
God and His chosen ones and the possessors of insight, the most
excellent and praiseworthy of all things, but always on condition that
its centre of emanation should be reason and knowledge and its base
should be true moderation.... Abdu’l-Baha
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