It is at such times that the friends of God avail themselves of the occasion, seize the opportunity, rush forth and win the prize. If their task is to be confined to good conduct and advice, nothing will be accomplished. They must speak out, expound the proofs, set forth clear arguments, draw irrefutable conclusions establishing the truth of the manifestation of the Sun of Reality." (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, no. 212, p. 280)

"Then look thou not at the degree of thy capacity, look thou at the boundless favor of Bahá'u'lláh; all-encompassing is His bounty, and consummate His grace." (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, no. 153, p. 188)

"Turn thy face toward the Kingdom of God, ask for the bestowals of the Holy Spirit, speak, and the confirmations of the Spirit will come." (‘Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá, no. 153, p. 188)

"O ye beloved of God! Repose not yourselves on your couches, nay bestir yourselves as soon as ye recognize your Lord, the Creator, and hear of the things which have befallen Him, and hasten to His assistance. Unloose your tongues, and proclaim unceasingly His Cause. This shall be better for you than all the treasures of the past and of the future, if ye be of them that comprehend this truth." (Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 330)

"If the friends always waited until they were fully qualified to do any particular task, the work of the Cause would be almost at a standstill! But the very act of striving to serve, however unworthy one may feel, attracts the blessings of God and enables one to become more fitted for the task.

"Today the need is so great on the part of humanity to hear of the Divine Message, that the believers must plunge into the work, wherever and however they can, heedless of their own shortcomings, but ever heedful of the crying need of their fellow-men to hear of the teachings in their darkest hour of travail."

(From a letter dated 4 May 1942 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, published in Teaching the Bahá'í Faith, no. 104, p. 72)