Favourite quote, these come from the Baha'I writtings I grew up with:
"Strain every nerve to acquire both inner and outer perfections, for the fruit of the human tree hath ever been and will ever be perfections both within and without. It is not desirable that a man be left without knowledge or skills, for he is then but a barren tree. Then, so much as capacity and capability allow, ye needs must deck the tree of being with fruits such as knowledge, wisdom, spiritual perception and eloquent speech."
another favourite
"Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit there from."
Growing up in a family that emphasises the above is incredible. In school teachers would say 'kids are like sponges, they absorb so much' but there is an inherent flaw in that. Sponges can only absorb to the point where they start to drip, but a mine, you can always keep digging deeper and deeper, and the gems you find can polished until perfection.
