“And of all illumination which human reason can give, none is comparable to the discovery of what we are, our nature, our obligations, what happiness we are capable of, and what are the means of attaining it.”

The head of every family will be what Abraham was, the patriarch

Our secret association works in a way that nothing can withstand, and man shall soon be free and happy.

If a writer publishes any thing that attracts notice, and is in itself just, but does not accord with our plan

We must win the common people in every corner.

And it will fire them the more, and cause them to work for us with zeal, without knowing that they do so.

The human race will then become one family, and the world will be the dwelling of Rational Men.

A Literary Society is the most proper form for the introduction of our Order into any state where we are yet strangers.

The revolution which is about to break will be sterile if it is not complete.

But I have contrived an explanation which has every advantage; is inviting to christians of every communion; gradually frees them from all religious prejudices

This is the great object held out by this association; and the means of attaining it is illumination, enlightening the understanding by the sun of reason which will dispell the clouds of superstition and of prejudice.

It was the full conviction of this, and of what could be done,

Let it never appear in any place in its own name but always covered by another name and another occupation.

Salvation does not lie where strong thrones are defended by swords, where the smoke of censers ascend to heaven or where thousands of strong men pace the rich fields of harvest.

I am proud to be known to the world as the founder of the Illuminati.

By establishing reading societies, and subscription libraries, and taking these under our direction, and supplying them through our labors

This will be obtained chiefly by means of the schools, and by open, hearty behavior, show, condescension, popularity, and toleration of their prejudices, which we shall at leisure root out and dispel.

How can we manage to illuminate the pathos of our lives?

Thus any increase of outward splendor is usually a sign of a decrease in inward illumination

This is the great object held out by this association; and the means of attaining it is illumination, enlightening the understanding by the sun of reason which will dispell the clouds of superstition and of prejudice.

It was the full conviction of this, and of what could be done,

Attempting to understand consciousness with your mind, is like trying to illuminate the sun with a candle.

There are two kinds of light – the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.

So long as one does not become simple like a child, one does not get divine illumination.

It has shown me that everything is illuminated in the light of the past. It is always along the side of us…on the inside, looking out.