“I should have been keenly occupied, and the founding of an order would have never come into my head.”

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.

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.

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.

The most wonderful thing of all is that the distinguished Lutheran and Calvinist theologians who belong to our order really believe that they see in it (Illuminati) the true and genuine sense of Christian Religion.

The tenor of my life has been the opposite of everything that is vile, and no man can lay any such thing to my charge.

And then all the objections urged against it by jealous tyranny and affrighted superstition will vanish.

In another situation, and in an active station in life,

Let this circumstance of our constitution therefore be directed to this noble purpose

For thus it is better secured from the oppression of the ruling powers, and because this secrecy gives a greater zest to the whole.

There is no way of influencing men so powerfully as by means of the women.

Who would imagine that I was to be the founder of a new religion.

My general plan is good, though in the detail there may be faults.

My explanation is accurate and complete, my means are effectual, and irresistable.

We must endeavour to win him over, or decry him.