The teacher, when teaching, must be himself fully enkindled,
so that his utterance, like unto a flame of fire, may exert influence and
consume the veil of self and passion. He must also be utterly humble and lowly
so that others may be edified, and be totally self-effaced and evanescent so
that he may teach with the melody of the Concourse on high -- otherwise his
teaching will have no effect.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of
‘Abdu’l-Baha’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Guidelines for Teaching)