Therefore I say that
man must travel in the way of God. Day by day he must endeavor to become
better, his belief must increase and become firmer, his good qualities and his
turning to God must be greater, the fire of his love must flame more brightly;
then day by day he will make progress, for to stop advancing is the means of
going back. The bird when he flies soars ever higher and higher, for as soon as
he stops flying he will come down. Every day, in the morning when arising you
should compare today with yesterday and see in what condition you are. If you
see your belief is stronger and your heart more occupied with God and your love
increased and your freedom from the world greater then thank God and ask for
the increase of these qualities. You must begin to pray and repent for all that
you have done which is wrong and you must implore and ask for help and assistance
that you may become better than yesterday so that you may continue to make
progress.
- 'Abdu'l-Bahá ("Star of the West", vol. 8, no. 6, 24
June 1917; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. 1, Excellence in All Things)
