人有两种本性

人有两种本性：一种是精神性或高尚的一面，另一种是物质性或低下的一面。在一方面他向上天挺进，在另一方面他独个儿活在世界上。在人身上可以看见这两种本性的征兆。在物质的一面他表现出虚假、残忍和不公；这些都是他低下本性的结果。他的神圣本性表现在他的爱心、慈悲、善良、真挚和公正，所有这些都出自他高尚的一面。每一个好的习惯，每一个高尚的品质都来自他的精神本性，而所有劣行和罪行都源自于他的物质本性。假如他的神性征服了他的人性，我们就看到一个圣人了。

人有做好事和做坏事的能力，假如他向好的倾向压倒了他向坏的倾向，这个人实际上可以唤作圣人。可是，假使相反的，他拒绝上天的事物，允许邪恶的情感将他控制，那他不会比一头野兽好到哪里去。——阿博都巴哈

李开璇译（2015年10月29日）

In man there are two natures; his spiritual or higher nature and his material or lower nature. In one he approaches God, in the other he lives for the world alone. Signs of both these natures are to be found in men. In his material aspect he expresses untruth, cruelty and injustice; all these are the outcome of his lower nature. The attributes of his Divine nature are shown forth in love, mercy, kindness, truth and justice, one and all being expressions of his higher nature. Every good habit, every noble quality belongs to man’s spiritual nature, whereas all his imperfections and sinful actions are born of his material nature. If a man’s Divine nature dominates his human nature, we have a saint.

Man has the power both to do good and to do evil; if his power for good predominates and his inclinations to do wrong are conquered, then man in truth may be called a saint. But if, on the contrary, he rejects the things of God and allows his evil passions to conquer him, then he is no better than a mere animal. —— ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

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