II, 16
“
It is better to guide one soul than to possess all that is on earth, for as long as that guided soul is under the shadow of the Tree of Divine Unity, he and the one who hath guided him will both be recipients of God’s tender mercy, whereas possession of earthly things will cease at the time of death. The path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion. This hath been God’s method in the past, and shall continue to be in the future!
— Báb
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "It is better to guide one soul than to possess all that is on earth, for as long as that guided soul is under the shadow of the Tree of Divine Unity, he and the one who hath guided him will both be recipients of God’s tender mercy, whereas possession of earthly things will cease at the time of death. The path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion. This hath been God’s method in the past, and shall continue to be in the future!" in the context of "II, 16" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Báb" (Quotes, Persian Bayán)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Báb
The Báb باب Siyyid `Alí Muhammad سيد علی محمد (20 October 1819 – 9 July 1850) the founder of Bábism, was a merchant from Shiraz, Persia, who at the age of twenty-four claimed to be a new and independent Manifestation of God and the promised Qá'im (or Mahdí). After his declaration he took on the title of the Báb meaning the "Gateway", by which he is primarily known. Several years after the Báb's execution by firing squad Bahá'u'lláh claimed to fulfill his prophecy of "He whom God shall make manifest " and founded the Bahá'í Faith.
About Báb
The Báb باب Siyyid `Alí Muhammad سيد علی محمد (20 October 1819 – 9 July 1850) the founder of Bábism, was a merchant from Shiraz, Persia, who at the age of twenty-four claimed to be a new and independent Manifestation of God and the promised Qá'im (or Mahdí). After his declaration he took on the title of the Báb meaning the "Gateway", by which he is primarily known. Several years after the Báb's execution by firing squad Bahá'u'lláh claimed to fulfill his prophecy of "He whom God shall make manifest " and founded the Bahá'í Faith.
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