It was eventually through Arabs that civilization was introduced to the West. It was through them that the philosophy, science and culture which the old Greeks had developed found their way to Europe. The Arabs were the ablest translators and linguists of their age, and it is thanks to them that the writings of such well-known thinkers as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were made available to the Westerners.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 27 April 1936 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; compilation: ‘Socrates’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, 1995; Baha’i Library Online)
