The reality of man is his thought, not
his material body. The thought force and the animal force are partners. .... If
a man's thought is constantly aspiring towards heavenly subjects then does he
become saintly; if on the other hand his thought does not soar, but is directed
downwards to centre itself upon the things of this world, he grows more and more
material until he arrives at a state little better than that of a mere animal.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha,
from a talk, ‘Paris Talks’)
