In the world of existence man has traversed successive
degrees until he has attained the human kingdom. In each degree of his
progression he has developed capacity for advancement to the next station and
condition. While in the kingdom of the mineral he was attaining the capacity
for promotion into the degree of the vegetable. In the kingdom of the vegetable
he underwent preparation for the world of the animal, and from thence he has
come onward to the human degree, or kingdom. Throughout this journey of progression
he has ever and always been potentially man.
- ‘Abdu'l-Baha (From a talk, 6 July 1912, New York; ‘The
Promulgation of Universal Peace’)
