When Christ was crucified He left only eleven Disciples, and yet see how Christianity encompassed the world! Baha'u'llah at the time of His Departure had from one to two hundred thousand followers. While they have already filled the world with His light, see how marvellous will be its effects in the future! When we were exiled to Constantinople from Baghdad, the Persian Ambassador at the former city did his best to bring about our total destruction. Supposing he had succeeded in destroying us - could he destroy the Cause of God? They said they would wholly annihilate the Cause by destroying the Báb. Could they do so? No. the very martyrdom of the Báb strengthened His Cause a thousand-fold. Now some people imagine the Cause of God depends upon my existence: and that by destroying me they could destroy the Cause! Verily, this is far from reality. Nay, when I go the Cause will make great progress after me. Remember this.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Ali Kuli Khan, 'Abdu'l-Baha's English-language secretary during 1899 to 1901; ‘Ali-Kuli Khan 1906 Pilgrim Notes’)