To SULṬÁN ABDU’L-’AZIZ

SULṬÁN ABDUL-’AZIZ

Overstep not the bounds of moderation, and deal justly with them that serve thee.
 Bestow upon them according to their needs and not to the extent that will enable them to lay up riches for themselves, to deck their persons, to embellish their homes, to acquire the things that are of no benefit unto them, and to be numbered with the extravagant.
Deal with them with undeviating justice, so that none among them may either suffer want, or be pampered with luxuries.

This is but manifest justice.
Allow not the abject to rule over and dominate them who are noble and worthy of honour, and suffer not the high-minded to be at the mercy of the contemptible and worthless, for this is what We observed upon Our arrival in the City (Constantinople), and to it We bear witness. We found among its inhabitants some who were possessed of an affluent fortune and lived in the midst of excessive riches, whilst others were in dire want and abject poverty. This ill beseemeth thy sovereignty, and is unworthy of thy rank.

Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh P.51