Tag: Human nature

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Tag: "Human nature"

tag name Human nature type: Philosophy; Principles, teachings; Science: natural, social, and applied

web link bahai-library.com/tags/Human_nature
related tags – Concepts, Philosophical; – Concepts, Religious; – Concepts, Science; – Ethics; Creation; Nature; Psychology; Purpose of life; Purpose of life; Spirituality; Tags with multiple Inventory subjects (selected)
referring tags Arc of ascent and descent; Free will; God, Image of; He who knoweth his self knoweth his Lord (hadith); Heart; Human capacity and limitations; Inner reality; Microcosm and macrocosm; Mind, spirit, soul; Nobility; Rational faculty; Reality of man; Self; Soul, Human
Inventory subject Human reality created in the image of God; Man is the sum; pinnacle; fruit of creation; Man's distinction from the animal; Two aspects of the human soul; the higher and lower natures
notes

See also:
– Bahai org: Human Nature
– Bahá'í Sacred Writings, chapter 2, section Human Nature" (Bahá'u'lláh), and chapter 13, section The Nature of the Human Being" ('Abdu'l-Bahá)
– Covenant Library Unified Index

selected quotations
(authoritative sources)
These quotations reflect common presentations of Bahá’í views; the materials below may show a wider range of interpretations and contexts:

"Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.
Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get thou from it thy radiance and seek none other than Me. For I have created thee rich and have bountifully shed My favor upon thee.
With the hands of power I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created thee; and within thee have I placed the essence of My light...
I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being...
Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created."

– Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, Arabic, no. 3, 12–14, and 22 (BH00386)

"... Upon the inmost reality of each and every created thing He hath shed the light of one of His names, and made it a recipient of the glory of one of His attributes. Upon the reality of man, however, He hath focused the radiance of all of His names and attributes, and made it a mirror of His own Self. Alone of all created things man hath been singled out for so great a favor, so enduring a bounty..."

– Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, XXVII [BH00690]

"... Say: Spirit, mind, soul, and the powers of sight and hearing are but one single reality which hath manifold expressions owing to the diversity of its instruments. As thou dost observe, man’s power to comprehend, move, speak, hear, and see all derive from this sign of his Lord within him. It is single in its essence, yet manifold through the diversity of its instruments. This, verily, is a certain truth..."

– Bahá'u'lláh, Súriy-i-Ra'ís, ¶35 (BH00260)

"... Man is the supreme Talisman. Lack of a proper education hath, however, deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess. ... Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom..."

– Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, Lawḥ-i-Maqṣúd (Tablet to Maqṣúd), ¶2 (BH00140)

"When we examine all things with the eye of discernment, we observe that they are generally confined to three categories: mineral, vegetable, and animal... Man is the most distinguished species in that he combines the perfections of all three classes—that is, he possesses a material body, the power of growth, and the power of sensation. Beyond the mineral, vegetable, and animal perfections, however, he also possesses a special perfection of which other created things are bereft, namely, the perfections of the mind. Thus man is the noblest of all existing things.
Man is in the ultimate degree of materiality and the beginning of spirituality; that is, he is at the end of imperfection and the beginning of perfection. He is at the furthermost degree of darkness and the beginning of the light. That is why the station of man is said to be the end of night and the beginning of day, meaning that he encompasses all the degrees of imperfection and that he potentially possesses all the degrees of perfection. He has both an animal side and an angelic side, and the role of the educator is to so train human souls that the angelic side may overcome the animal..."

– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, chapter 64 (AB00420)

"... As we have before indicated, this human reality stands between the higher and the lower in man, between the world of the animal and the world of Divinity. When the animal proclivity in man becomes predominant, he sinks even lower than the brute. When the heavenly powers are triumphant in his nature, he becomes the noblest and most superior being in the world of creation. All the imperfections found in the animal are found in man. In him there is antagonism, hatred and selfish struggle for existence; in his nature lurk jealousy, revenge, ferocity, cunning, hypocrisy, greed, injustice and tyranny. So to speak, the reality of man is clad in the outer garment of the animal, the habiliments of the world of nature, the world of darkness, imperfections and unlimited baseness.
On the other hand, we find in him justice, sincerity, faithfulness, knowledge, wisdom, illumination, mercy and pity, coupled with intellect, comprehension, the power to grasp the realities of things and the ability to penetrate the truths of existence. All these great perfections are to be found in man. Therefore, we say that man is a reality which stands between light and darkness.."

– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, talk no. 139, 4 December 1912 [ABU0033]

"... A foundational concept to explore... is the spiritual reality of man. In the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, the nobility inherent to every human being is unequivocally asserted; it is a fundamental tenet of Bahá’í belief, upon which hope for the future of humankind is built. The soul’s capacity to manifest all the names and attributes of God—He Who is the Compassionate, the Bestower, the Bountiful—is repeatedly affirmed in the Writings. ... “Man’s merit lieth in service and virtue”, Bahá’u’lláh avers, “and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches.” And further: “Dissipate not the wealth of your precious lives in the pursuit of evil and corrupt affection, nor let your endeavours be spent in promoting your personal interest.” By consecrating oneself to the service of others, one finds meaning and purpose in life and contributes to the upliftment of society itself..."

– Universal House of Justice, letter dated 1 March 2017, to the Bahá'ís of the world

references en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_nature; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q="Human nature"

"Human nature" has been tagged in:

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2025-12. `Abdu'l-Bahá on Humanity's Ability to "Break" the Laws of Nature. Bahman Nadimi. On Abdu’l-Bahá’s "breaking of nature" statements and whether they can be thought of as as lawful redirection; human reason leverages and reorganizes nature's forces into tools to override nature's local tendencies. Essays.
2025-07. Bahá'í Sacred Writings. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í World Centre, comp. . A comprehensive collection of selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and the Writings and utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, representing the range of the Bahá’í teachings. Writings.
2024-09-04. Embracing Interdependence: Foundations for a World in Transition. Bahá'í International Community. Statement on the occasion of the United Nations Summit of the Future, advocating for global governance reform centered on humanity's oneness, urging leaders to prioritize unity, justice, and interdependence for lasting peace. BIC.
2023-2026. BWNS Podcasts: Conversations and Insights from the Field. Bahá'í World News Service. Links to 46 interviews highlighting how Bahá’í individuals and communities worldwide apply spiritual principles to education, governance, equality, and social transformation, fostering unity and the betterment of society. Video and audio available. Audio.
2022. Peace in Perspective: The Historical Development of Peace Studies and the Bahá'í Concept. Marcos Alan Ferreira. How the peace concept evolved through history, and how it dialogues with perspectives of Bahá’í writings and thinkers vs. the conceptual frameworks of Peace Studies, in light of an understanding of violence, human nature, and unity. Articles.
2021. Light of the World: Selected Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Abdu'l-Bahá. Tablets of ‘Abdul-Bahá describing aspects of the life of Bahá’u’lláh including the tribulations He suffered, events in His homeland, the purpose and greatness of His Cause, and the nature and significance of His Covenant. Writings.
2021. Light and Mercy: Mental Health and Tests and Difficulties. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia, comp. . The physical and mental impact of the continuing pandemic is evident around us, and the members of the Baha’i community are not immune. This publication will be of assistance and support to the friends both individually and collectively. Compilations-NSA.
2020-04-10. Writings of the Báb, The: Notes from Talks given by Dr. Nader Saiedi. Nader Saiedi, Anonymous, comp. . Structured summarized notes from Dr. Saiedi’s 2019 talks on the Báb’s Writings, delivered at the Swedish and Norwegian Bahá'í summer school 2019, highlighting key theological concepts and themes. Includes some provisional translations quoted in the talks. Talks.
2019-12-08. Philosophical Statements by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Some Answered Questions. Abdu'l-Bahá, A. Bolhuis, comp. . Quotations extracted from Ian Kluge's article "Some Answered Questions: A Philosophical Perspective" (2009), using the 2014 revised edition of "Some Answered Questions". Compilations-personal.
2019-09. Worldview and the Laws of the Bayán. Nader Saiedi. Explores the Persian Bayán's spiritual worldview and laws through four talks, offering insights into the Báb's Dispensation. Audio.
2019. Analysis of the Salient Features of Risáliy-i-Ja'faríyyih, An. Foad Seddigh. This treatise, one of the major writings of the Báb, was written before He had disclosed His complete station of prophethood to the public. It comments on an Islamic prayer for the advent of the promised Qa'im. Includes translation. Articles.
2019. Writings of the Báb: Lecture Series at the Norwegian Summer School. Nader Saiedi. On topics including the concept of God; Manifestations of God; Day of Resurrection, heaven and hell; the Imamate, the Hidden Imam; divine justice and free will; reason, independence; human rights, equality, women. Links to audio files, offsite. Audio.
2017/2022. Bahá'í Teachings on The Universe. Ernie Jones, comp. Compilation of writings related to the cosmos, the worlds of God, and spiritual evolution. Study.
2017. Bahá'í Philosophy of Human Nature, The. Ian Kluge. How the essential reality of the individual — the human soul and its powers of rational thought, willpower, memory, and reflection — translates these capacities into physical action through the intermediary of the brain. Articles.
2017. Nature of Human Nature, The. John S. Hatcher. "From the Editor's Desk": Introduction to this issue's two articles: Ian Kluge's on human nature and Patricia McIlvride’s on mental disorders and depression, stigma, and the soul. Essays.
2015. Human Nature and Mental Health: A Bahá'í-Inspired Perspective. Michael L. Penn. Overview of one research-practitioner’s understanding of the nature of mind from the perspective of the Bahá’í teachings, and implications of this view for understanding mental health and mental illness. Articles.
2014. Answered Questions, Some. Abdu'l-Bahá. 'Table talks' given by ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá in ‘Akká between 1904 and 1906 in response to questions posed by Laura Dreyfus-Barney; first published in 1908, the new 2014 edition has been extensively retranslated. Writings.
2014. Index to Some Answered Questions. Topic references to chapter and paragraph numbers of the 2014 revised authorized translation of this collection of table talks by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Bibliographies.
2013-2018/2023. Various Essays. Susan Gammage. 47 short essays on following the teachings and living a Bahá'í life, life coaching and counselling, recovery from substances or abuse, family matters, dreams, elections, debt, abortion, and more. Includes bios of Bruce Matthews and Caroline Lehmann. Essays.
2013-04-19. Challenges for Bahá'í Youth in a Western Way of Life. Universal House of Justice. Difficulties young people might face in upholding Bahá'í ideals and standards of behaviour in the context of Western culture and sexual mores. UHJ-letters.
2013. Materials Studied at the 114 Global Youth Conferences in 2013. Bahá'í World Centre. Compilation presenting materials studied during the global Bahá’í youth conferences in 2013, organized under the auspices of the Universal House of Justice, exploring youth identity, community-building, service, and civilization advancement. Study.
2013. Reason and the Bahá'í Writings. Ian Kluge. The Bahá'í Faith has much to say on the importance of reason, logic, and a "rational God," but the mind alone is not sufficient to attain transrational understanding. This paper examines the uses and limitations of reason in light of cultural differences. Articles.
2012. Human Nature and World Religion: Toward a Bahá'í-Inspired Philosophical Anthropology. Harold Rosen. On how the major religions depict human nature, philosophical anthropology, the shared metaphysical concept of four levels of reality, and the nature of divine reality across religions. Articles.
2011. Essence of Man, The: Towards a Bahá'í Understanding of Human Nature and Psychology. Wolfgang A. Klebel. Commentary on a section from Bahá'u'lláh's Tablet to Mírzá Hádí, about "the essence of man." This paper attempts to provide an understanding of what is expressed in these Words and understand "Who is Man." Articles.
2011. Birth of the Human Being, The: Beyond Religious Traditionalism and Materialist Modernity. Nader Saiedi. We have arrived at a turning point in human evolution: the moment of the birth of the human being. This paper examines the development of this idea in the Writings of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and its opposite concept, dehumanization. Articles.
2010-12-30. Birth of Human Beings in the Writings of the Bab. Nader Saiedi. A talk on an invited topic (the origin of humankind) from a scholar known for his unique familiarity with the works of The Bab. Audio.
2010-12. Material and Spiritual Worlds. Peter J. Khan. Four talks on the Five-Year Plan given at the North Island Bahá'í Summer School, Hamilton, New Zealand, December 2010. Audio.
2009. Answered Questions, Some: A Philosophical Perspective. Ian Kluge. Philosophical foundations of the Bahá’í teachings, including ontology, theology, epistemology, philosophical anthropology and psychology, and personal and social ethics. Articles.
2008-05-28. Bhagavad-Gita and the Bahá'í Faith. Anil Sarwal, M. M. Sreenivasan. A discussion on the most important aspects of human life in Srimad Bhagawat Gita and the Bahá'í Faith, by Dr Srinee of Malaysia and Prof. Sarwal of India, with full references and quotes from the Holy Scriptures of both the Faiths. (Offsite.) Audio.
2008. Compilation on the "Inner Reality". Ehsan Bayat, comp. Compilations-personal.
2007-06. Power of Prayer. Hartmut Grossmann. Audio.
2007. Hidden Gifts: Finding Blessings in the Struggles of Life. Brian Kurzius. Compilation of Bahá'í texts on the purpose of problems and tests in our lives. Introductory.
2006. Aspects of Bahá'í Ethics, Some. Udo Schaefer. Summary of concepts from Schaefer's book Bahá'í Ethics in the Light of Scripture. Articles.
2003. Tablet of Maqsúd (Lawh-i-Maqsúd): Guidance on Human Nature and Leadership. Ramin Neshati. Reference to human aptitude and potential being contingent upon education; the need for a global conclave of world leaders and a common language and script; Prophets as intermediaries between God and creation; and praise for the Prophet Muhammad. Articles.
2002. Extract from the Súriy-i-Ra'ís about the Nature of the Soul. Bahá'u'lláh. Paragraphs 29-35 only, published as a standalone page here for ease of reference. Writings.
2001. Understanding the Human Condition: Secular and Spiritual Perspectives. Suresh Sahadevan. Both materialist and religious paradigms are important for happiness and for informing our decisions about how to live fruitful lives. Religion must work for the betterment of the world by applying spiritual concepts to solve contemporary problems. Articles.
2001. Perception Into Faith: A Radical Discontinuity Within Unity. William Barnes. Entering into eternal life is both a change of being and of perception; the two natures of man; faith versus good deeds as means for attaining eternal life; the Bahá’í 'spirit of faith'. Articles.
2001. Man: The Crown of Creation or Its Destroyer?. Udo Schaefer. When will deficient humans, no longer able to solve the existential problems of humanity, change for the better? The survival of mankind depends on a new ethic and a substantially new way of thinking. Articles-unpublished.
2000. Spiritual Nature of a Human Being, The. William G. Huitt. When individuals combine understandings derived from science, philosophy, and religion with their personal experiences and intuitions they will have a more complete knowledge of the reality of the universe than from any one knowledge system by itself. Essays.
2000. Psychology of Spirituality, The: From Divided Self to Integrated Self. Hossain B. Danesh. Explores what is the nature of human reality, the purpose of human life, transcendence, and whether we have free will, using case histories, in-depth analysis, and practical examples. First 3 chapters only. Books.
1999. Drug Abuse Prevention: The Spiritual Dimension. Vahid Payman. On spirituality and addictions; adolescent drug use; implementing a spiritual model of human nature. Essays.
1998. Body, Mind, Soul and Spirit. Anjam Khursheed. The Bahá'í view of human nature involves an interaction between spirit, soul and body — these three elements exist both in the Semitic religions and in the Far Eastern ones; Western dualist and Eastern monist traditions are in fact all tripartite. Articles.
1998. Triumphing over our weaknesses. The Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Brent Poirier, comp. . Personal compilation Compilations-personal.
1998. Tractatus on Philosophy. Jean-Marc Lepain. A concise attempt to translate the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh in contemporary philosophic jargon, in poetic style. Essays.
1997/2026. Principles of Bahá'í Education: A Brief Conceptual Review. Behrooz Sabet. A concise review of Bahá’í educational principles offering a unified vision of learning, human potential, and social transformation. Articles-unpublished.
1996-06. Sustainable Communities in an Integrating World. Bahá'í International Community. Concept paper prepared for the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) held in Istanbul, Turkey. BIC.
1996-05-13. Disintegration of Society and the Development of a New Order. Universal House of Justice. On the disintegration of society and the development of a new order, and how the advancement of civilization and the development of human nature can continue. UHJ-letters.
1996. Bahá'u'lláh's Teachings on Spiritual Reality. Paul Lample, comp. The quest for spirituality, the spiritual life, material and spiritual reality, the progress of the soul and humanity’s spiritual education. Introductory.
1989/1990. Immortality and the Human Soul: Lecture Series. Hooper Dunbar. Audio.
1989. Good of the World and the Happiness of the Nations, The: A Study of Modern Utopian and Dystopian Literature. Elham Afnan. The Bahá'í Writings, with their new understanding of human destiny, can bridge the gap between utopian visions of progress from 19th-century literature and dystopian visions of 20th-century fiction, disillusioned by war and social and economic disasters. Articles.
1987. Human Nature and Human Society: A Bahá'í Viewpoint. William S. Hatcher. Introduction to the Bahá'í understanding of human beings and social structures. Articles.
1987. Marxism, Human Nature, and Society. Laurie E. Adkin. On Marxism, human nature, alienatation and emancipation, and feminism. No mention of the Bahá'í Faith. Articles.
1986. Concept of Spirituality, The. William S. Hatcher. Widely-read ABS monograph, re-published in the Bahá'í World. Includes chapters "The Nature of Man," "Process of Spiritual Growth," and "Collective Dimension of Spirituality." Articles.
1985-10. Promise of World Peace, The. Universal House of Justice. Call to global unity, affirming peace as humanity’s next evolutionary stage and urging moral, spiritual, and collective responsibility for its realization. Distributed to many leaders, politicians and prominent individuals since its writing in 1985. UHJ-documents.
1985-03-14. Human Suffering, the Reconstruction of Society, and the Places the Manifestations of God have Appeared. Universal House of Justice. UHJ-letters.
1981. La conception de l'homme de Bahá'u'lláh. Udo Schaefer. Essays.
1969. Message to the Indian and Eskimo Bahá'ís of the Western Hemisphere. Rúhíyyih Khánum. Letter to Native American and Inuit believers, about the assurance given in the Bahá'í Writings that their future is very great, and that they themselves best help to fulfill these promises by taking the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh to their own people. Essays.
1967-12-09. Hidden Words, The: Transcript of a talk by Hand of the Cause of God A. Q. Faizí. Abu'l-Qásim Faizí. Talk delivered in Wilmette, Illinois. Talks.
1963/1977. Ocean of His Utterances, The. Howard Colby Ives. Unpublished study course in the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh using the books of Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l‑Baha, and Shoghi Effendi, compiled and with commentary by Ives. Not yet formatted. Books.
1944/2006. Divine Art of Living, The. The Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Mabel Hyde Paine, comp. . Collection of thematically arranged quotations. Introductory.
1939. Heart of the Gospel: The Bible and the Bahá'í Faith. George Townshend. Using only the text of the Bible, Townshend provides a new reading of Scripture as a guidebook for those who seek a universal view of religion and the contemporary world. Books.
1912-12. Address to the Theosophical Society, An. Abdu'l-Bahá, Ameen Ullah Fareed, trans. . Translations.

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tag name	Human nature	type:	Philosophy; Principles, teachings; Science: natural, social, and applied
web link	bahai-library.com/tags/Human_nature
related tags	– Concepts, Philosophical; – Concepts, Religious; – Concepts, Science; – Ethics; Creation; Nature; Psychology; Purpose of life; Purpose of life; Spirituality; Tags with multiple Inventory subjects (selected)
referring tags	Arc of ascent and descent; Free will; God, Image of; He who knoweth his self knoweth his Lord (hadith); Heart; Human capacity and limitations; Inner reality; Microcosm and macrocosm; Mind, spirit, soul; Nobility; Rational faculty; Reality of man; Self; Soul, Human
Inventory subject	Human reality created in the image of God; Man is the sum; pinnacle; fruit of creation; Man's distinction from the animal; Two aspects of the human soul; the higher and lower natures
notes	See also: – Bahai org: Human Nature – Bahá'í Sacred Writings, chapter 2, section Human Nature" (Bahá'u'lláh), and chapter 13, section The Nature of the Human Being" ('Abdu'l-Bahá) – Covenant Library Unified Index
selected quotations (authoritative sources)	These quotations reflect common presentations of Bahá’í views; the materials below may show a wider range of interpretations and contexts: "Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty. Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get thou from it thy radiance and seek none other than Me. For I have created thee rich and have bountifully shed My favor upon thee. With the hands of power I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created thee; and within thee have I placed the essence of My light... I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being... Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created." – Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, Arabic, no. 3, 12–14, and 22 (BH00386) "... Upon the inmost reality of each and every created thing He hath shed the light of one of His names, and made it a recipient of the glory of one of His attributes. Upon the reality of man, however, He hath focused the radiance of all of His names and attributes, and made it a mirror of His own Self. Alone of all created things man hath been singled out for so great a favor, so enduring a bounty..." – Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, XXVII [BH00690] "... Say: Spirit, mind, soul, and the powers of sight and hearing are but one single reality which hath manifold expressions owing to the diversity of its instruments. As thou dost observe, man’s power to comprehend, move, speak, hear, and see all derive from this sign of his Lord within him. It is single in its essence, yet manifold through the diversity of its instruments. This, verily, is a certain truth..." – Bahá'u'lláh, Súriy-i-Ra'ís, ¶35 (BH00260) "... Man is the supreme Talisman. Lack of a proper education hath, however, deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess. ... Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom..." – Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, Lawḥ-i-Maqṣúd (Tablet to Maqṣúd), ¶2 (BH00140) "When we examine all things with the eye of discernment, we observe that they are generally confined to three categories: mineral, vegetable, and animal... Man is the most distinguished species in that he combines the perfections of all three classes—that is, he possesses a material body, the power of growth, and the power of sensation. Beyond the mineral, vegetable, and animal perfections, however, he also possesses a special perfection of which other created things are bereft, namely, the perfections of the mind. Thus man is the noblest of all existing things. Man is in the ultimate degree of materiality and the beginning of spirituality; that is, he is at the end of imperfection and the beginning of perfection. He is at the furthermost degree of darkness and the beginning of the light. That is why the station of man is said to be the end of night and the beginning of day, meaning that he encompasses all the degrees of imperfection and that he potentially possesses all the degrees of perfection. He has both an animal side and an angelic side, and the role of the educator is to so train human souls that the angelic side may overcome the animal..." – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, chapter 64 (AB00420) "... As we have before indicated, this human reality stands between the higher and the lower in man, between the world of the animal and the world of Divinity. When the animal proclivity in man becomes predominant, he sinks even lower than the brute. When the heavenly powers are triumphant in his nature, he becomes the noblest and most superior being in the world of creation. All the imperfections found in the animal are found in man. In him there is antagonism, hatred and selfish struggle for existence; in his nature lurk jealousy, revenge, ferocity, cunning, hypocrisy, greed, injustice and tyranny. So to speak, the reality of man is clad in the outer garment of the animal, the habiliments of the world of nature, the world of darkness, imperfections and unlimited baseness. On the other hand, we find in him justice, sincerity, faithfulness, knowledge, wisdom, illumination, mercy and pity, coupled with intellect, comprehension, the power to grasp the realities of things and the ability to penetrate the truths of existence. All these great perfections are to be found in man. Therefore, we say that man is a reality which stands between light and darkness.." – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, talk no. 139, 4 December 1912 [ABU0033] "... A foundational concept to explore... is the spiritual reality of man. In the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, the nobility inherent to every human being is unequivocally asserted; it is a fundamental tenet of Bahá’í belief, upon which hope for the future of humankind is built. The soul’s capacity to manifest all the names and attributes of God—He Who is the Compassionate, the Bestower, the Bountiful—is repeatedly affirmed in the Writings. ... “Man’s merit lieth in service and virtue”, Bahá’u’lláh avers, “and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches.” And further: “Dissipate not the wealth of your precious lives in the pursuit of evil and corrupt affection, nor let your endeavours be spent in promoting your personal interest.” By consecrating oneself to the service of others, one finds meaning and purpose in life and contributes to the upliftment of society itself..." – Universal House of Justice, letter dated 1 March 2017, to the Bahá'ís of the world
references	en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_nature; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q="Human nature"