Among the most important principles of the Teaching of Baha’u’llah is the equalization of the means of living among men. There are in the world at present numerous cases of men who are either too poor or too rich. While some live in palaces, others have nowhere to lay their head; some have many courses at their meals, while others scarcely have enough bread to keep them alive. This state of affairs is wrong and must be remedied.
The remedy, however, cannot consist in the bringing to pass of equality, absolute equality among men; this would be impossible. There is needed some organization which will bring about an order in this disorder. Equality is a mere dream and absolutely impracticable. If Equality existed the whole order of the world would be destroyed. In mankind there is always a difference in degree. Since creation men have never been the same. Some have superior intelligence, others are more ordinary and some are devoid of intellect. How can there ever exist equality between those who are clever and those who are not? Humanity is like an army. An army must have a general, captains and soldiers, each with their appointed duties; it cannot consist of generals only, or captains, or soldiers only—there must be degrees in the organization.
Lycurgus, the philosopher sovereign of Sparta, intended to promote the welfare of his country. He wished to equalize the means of living in Sparta. So he divided the inhabitants into three divisions. The first third was composed of his own family and relatives. Of these he made governors and chiefs and gave them power over the people—of the second third, which consisted of the people dwelling in the country parts of Sparta, a class of agriculturalists who cultivated the land and possessed large farms. The third class was that of the workmen and farm laborers and men of trade. The first class consisted of nine thousand people, and those who belonged to this third were superior to the rest of their countrymen and profited by exemption from the laws which bound the lower classes. These were the chiefs of the people and controlled the government and politics of the Spartans. They held the balance of peace or war in their hands; though if war were carried on they were not obliged to take part in it if they did not wish to do so.
The children of the nine thousand were sent to school at the age of six years old and there they were taught the use of arms and the art of war. When they had completed their military education at the age of twenty years they were fitted to rule and take part in the government of the country. Sparta was divided into nine thousand parts and each part was governed by a member of the superior class. The second third, the farmer class, were obliged to give a tenth part of their produce to the government; the third class also were forced to give an annual tax to the government.
Lycurgus made the Spartans swear that they would maintain the same order of government when he left the country and that they would not alter it till his return. Having secured their oath, he left Sparta and never returned. Lycurgus renounced his high position for the good of his country, for the equalization of property. After a time all was destroyed, his constitution came to an end. Equality is impossible.
Some are too rich, some are too poor, some have millions and some have nothing. An organization is necessary to control this state of affairs. It is necessary to limit riches or it is necessary to limit poverty. Either extreme is wrong. There should be a medium state. If it is right for a capitalist to possess a great fortune, then it is also just that a workman should have a means of existence. If poverty is allowed to reach a condition of starvation, it proves that there is tyranny. Men must not see that this does not happen in any case. There must be special laws. The rich must give of their plenty. If they have more than they need they must think of those who are in want.
The government of a country should make laws which conform to the Divine Law. The Law of God exacts that there should be neither excessive wealth nor excessive poverty.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Discourses given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 2, April 9, 1912)