Past

Let each morn be better than its eve and each morrow richer than its yesterday.

Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 138

The generations that have gone on before you -- whither are they fled? And those round whom in life circled the fairest and the loveliest of the land, where now are they? Profit by their example, O people, and be not of them that are gone astray.

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 260

Consider the past, so that thou mayest become informed of the mysteries which shall be disclosed in the future.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í World Faith, p. 394

Once his effort is directed in the proper channel, if he does not succeed today, he will succeed tomorrow.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. 8, No. 1, p. 21

So the reckoning of days, weeks, months and years, of yesterday and today, is connected with the terrestrial globe; but in the sun there is no such thing -- there is neither yesterday, today nor tomorrow, neither months nor years: all are equal.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 152

The past, the present, the future, all, in relation to God, are equal. Yesterday, today, tomorrow do not exist in the sun.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 116

He urges you to grasp firmly the teachings of our Faith, the love of your family and many Bahá’í friends, to put the past behind entirely, realizing that it can do you no more harm; on the contrary, through changing you and making you spiritually aware, this very past can be a means of enriching your life in the future!

Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, pp. 449-450

Man can certainly recall past experiences in his evolution, and even when his soul leaves this world it will still remember its past.

Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 113

Our past is not the thing that matters so much in this world as what we intend to do with our future.

Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 208

When criticism and harsh words arise within a Bahá’í community there is no remedy except to put the past behind one and persuade all concerned to turn over a new leaf, and, for the sake of God and His Faith, refrain from mentioning the subjects which have led to misunderstanding and inharmony. The more the friends argue back and forth and maintain, each side, that their point of view is the right one, the worse the whole situation becomes.

Shoghi Effendi, Directives of the Guardian, pp. 17-18

Say! O thou possessor of sight: The past is the mirror of the future, look and perceive.

Bahá’í Scriptures, p. 132