‘Abdu’l-Bahá suggests that a teacher should speak as if the truth were still being sought, laying the matter out and inviting the other person to look at it together. That small shift of posture, from instructor to fellow investigator, changes everything about how a conversation feels. Humility in teaching is not timidity; the same prayer that confesses weakness before God’s creatures also tells of rising to act, relying on His power. It is the refusal to turn knowledge into rank, the ability to receive a stranger as a friend, and above all the willingness to let a refusal stand. Bahá’u’lláh pictures the believer offering a jewel in the kindest language and, if it is declined, leaving the hearer to himself and praying for him, without a word that could cause sadness. Socrates, describing how he learned the limits of his own knowledge, points to a kindred honesty [1], though one may ask how his questioning felt to those he examined. The way leads on into meekness and lowliness as inner virtues and into the other spiritual prerequisites that make teaching an act of love rather than contention.
Rather, we should look upon others with respect, and when attempting to explain and demonstrate, we should speak as if we are investigating the truth, saying: 'Here these things are before us. Let us investigate to determine where and in what form the truth can be found.' The teacher should not consider himself as learned and others ignorant. Such a thought breedeth pride, and pride is not conducive to influence. The teacher should not see in himself any superiority; he should speak with the utmost kindliness, lowliness and humility, for such speech exerteth influence and educateth the souls.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Lawh-i-Haft Sham' (Seven Candles), 1903 ca., to Jane E Whyte -- AB00143)
02
Thou seest my weakness, lowliness and humility before Thy creatures; nevertheless, I have trusted in Thee and have arisen in the promotion of Thy teachings among Thy strong servants, relying on Thy power and might.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablet of the Divine Plan (U.S. and Canada IV), 1917-Mar-08, to Baha'is of the United States and Canada -- AB00094)
03
O Lord! Make manifest in Thy lands humble and submissive souls, their faces illumined with the rays of guidance, severed from the world, extolling Thy Name, uttering Thy praise, and diffusing the fragrance of Thy holiness amongst mankind.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablet of the Divine Plan (U.S. and Canada III), 1916-Apr-19, to Baha'is of the United States and Canada -- AB00032)
04
Today every soul who deals with the people with the utmost humility and submission, is kind and showing love to them, is considering them the members and limbs of one temple, receiving the stranger as the friend, the remote one as the near one, and is occupied in their guidance, the power of the Word of God will make time as a conquering ---- and an angel with far-reaching voice.
Therefore walk and move in this path and engage in teaching people through kindness and nurturing.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908-Oct-11, to Mary J Revell -- AB06846)
05
When any one of the friends comes in contact with the people of pride, he must be the cause of awakening them with utmost kindness and joy and enable them to be admonished.
The Afnans of the Blessed Tree must show complete meekness and lowliness, so that they may teach with all humility and submissiveness, and impart absolute effacement and complete evanescence.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910 ca., to Afnan, Abdu'l-Husayn son of Siyyid Mirza Afnan -- AB07039)
07
Therefore, it behoveth him who is the recipient of an inward or outward gift or who partaketh of the bread of heaven to inform and invite his friends with the utmost love and kindness. If they respond favourably, his object is attained; otherwise he should leave them to themselves without contending with them or uttering a word that would cause the least sadness.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1299-08-14 [1882-Jul-1], to Mashhadi Baqir et al -- BH00048)
08
The teacher, when teaching, must be himself fully enkindled, so that his utterance, like unto a flame of fire, may exert influence and consume the veil of self and passion. He must also be utterly humble and lowly so that others may be edified, and be totally self-effaced and evanescent so that he may teach with the melody of the Concourse on highâ€"otherwise his teaching will have no effect.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1913-Jul-25, to Jamshid Khudadad Hakim -- AB04273)
09
Therefore,
Show forbearance and benevolence and love to one another. Should anyone among you be incapable of grasping a certain truth, or be striving to comprehend it, show forth, when conversing with him, a spirit of extreme kindliness and goodwill. Help him to see and recognize the truth, without esteeming yourself to be, in the least, superior to him, or to be possessed of greater endowments.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Lawh-i-Jamal-i-Burujirdi, 1290 ? [1873-1874], to Jamal Burujirdi -- BH01034)
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10
Consort with all men, O people of Baha, in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship. If ye be aware of a certain truth, if ye possess a jewel, of which others are deprived, share it with them in a language of utmost kindliness and goodwill. If it be accepted, if it fulfill its purpose, your object is attained. If anyone should refuse it, leave him unto himself, and beseech God to guide him. Beware lest ye deal unkindly with him.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Lawh-i-Ibn-i-Dhi'b (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf), 1308 ? [1891], to Muhammad Taqi Isfahani (son of the Wolf) -- BH00005)
11
Beware lest ye contend with anyone, nay, strive to make him aware of the truth with kindly manner and most convincing exhortation. If your hearer respond, he will have responded to his own behoof, and if not, turn ye away from him, and set your faces towards God’s sacred Court, the seat of resplendent holiness.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Suriy-i-Bayan, to Shaykh (Muhammad brother of Ahmad) -- BH00144)