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

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.

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

Let us not have those of the future decry our smallness of concept and lack of foresight.