The reality of man is his thought, not his material body. The thought force and the animal force are partners. .... If a man's thought is constantly aspiring towards heavenly subjects then does he become saintly; if on the other hand his thought does not soar, but is directed downwards to centre itself upon the things of this world, he grows more and more material until he arrives at a state little better than that of a mere animal.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Paris Talks: Addresses given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912’)