The world of humanity consists of two parts: male and female. Each is
the complement of the other. Therefore, if one is defective, the other will
necessarily be incomplete, and perfection cannot be attained. There is a right
hand and a left hand in the human body, functionally equal in service and
administration. If either proves defective, the defect will naturally extend
to the other by involving the completeness of the whole; for accomplishment is
not normal unless both are perfect. If we say one hand is deficient, we prove
the inability and incapacity of the other; for single-handed there is no full
accomplishment. Just as physical accomplishment is complete with two hands, so
man and woman, the two parts of the social body, must be perfect. It is not
natural that either should remain undeveloped; and until both are perfected,
the happiness of the human world will not be realized.
(“The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by
‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in
1912”, p. 134) [16]
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