Difference between faith and Individual Character/différence entre le caractere et la foi

Il y a une différence entre le caractère et la foi. Souvent, il est très difficile d'accepter ce fait et de s'y accommoder. Mais il reste qu'une personne peut avoir la foi et aimer la Cause - et même être prête à mourir pour elle - et pourtant, ne pas avoir un bon caractère, ou bien posséder des traits qui diffèrent des enseignements. Nous devrions essayer de changer, de permettre que le pouvoir de Dieu nous aide à nous recréer et à devenir de vrais baha'is aussi bien dans les actes que dans la croyance. Mais parfois le processus est lent, parfois il ne se produit jamais, car l'individu ne fait pas suffisamment d'efforts. Alors, cela nous fait souffrir et devient une épreuve.
(Shoghi Effendi - dans une lettre du 17 octobre 1944 -, dans "Le mariage baha'i et la vie familiale", p. 35.)

The sword of a virtuous character and upright conduct is sharper than blades of steel.

"Say, O friends! Strive that haply the tribulations suffered by this Wronged One and by you, in the path of God, may not prove to have been in vain. Cling ye to the hem of virtue, and hold fast to the cord of trustworthiness and piety. Concern yourselves with the things that benefit mankind, and not with your corrupt and selfish desires. O ye followers of this Wronged One! Ye are the shepherds of mankind; liberate ye your flocks from the wolves of evil passions and desires, and adorn them with the ornament of the fear of God. This is the firm commandment which hath, at this moment, flowed out from the Pen of Him Who is the Ancient of Days. By the righteousness of God! The sword of a virtuous character and upright conduct is sharper than blades of steel. The voice of the true Faith calleth aloud, at this moment, and saith: O people! Verily, the Day is come, and My Lord hath made Me to shine forth with a light whose splendor hath eclipsed the suns of utterance. Fear ye the Merciful, and be not of them that have gone astray." 

(Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, page 29)

(Another brilliant quote from Colin. Thanks!) 

So once more the Blessed Beauty calls us to care about what is around us, to be sensitive to others, to give the best of ourselves--to give what we often don't know we have--and make the world a better place with our passing.