The world is like a tree; the mineral kingdom is like the root; the animal kingdom is like the blossoms; and man is like the fruit of that tree. The tree is but for its fruit. If the gardener did not expect fruit he would never plant the trees. In the same way everything is for man… What is the sum-total and upshot of farming, plowing and sowing the seeds and irrigating? Is there any other thought back of all these labors save the gathering of crops? If the sheaves are only green and verdant but having no grains of wheat or barley the result is not achieved. The aim has not been the verdancy of the field but the richness of the harvest.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, compilation by DR. Zia Baghdadi; Star of the West, vol. 19, no.2, May 1928)