We behold, as we survey the episodes of this first act of a
sublime drama, the figure of its Master Hero, the Báb, arise meteor-like above
the horizon of Shíráz, traverse the sombre sky of Persia from south to north, decline
with tragic swiftness, and perish in a blaze of glory. We see His satellites, a
galaxy of God-intoxicated heroes, mount above that same horizon, irradiate that
same incandescent light, burn themselves out with that self-same swiftness, and
impart in their turn an added impetus to the steadily gathering momentum of
God’s nascent Faith.
- Shoghi Effendi (Chapter 1 of ‘God Passes By’)