As to a chaste and
holy life it should be regarded as no less essential a factor that must
contribute its proper share to the strengthening and vitalization of the Bahá'í
community, upon which must in turn depend the success of any Bahá'í plan or
enterprise.... All of them, be they men or women, must, at this threatening
hour when the lights of religion are fading out, and its restraints are one by
one being abolished, pause to examine themselves, scrutinize their conduct, and
with characteristic resolution arise to purge the life of their community of
every trace of moral laxity that might stain the name, or impair the integrity,
of so holy and precious a Faith.
- Shoghi Effendi (‘The Advent of Divine
Justice’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, A Chase and Holy Life)