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

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.

I found it here, in great vigour, more abounding than in any of the neighboring Protestant States.

But alas, they are all sadly deficient, because they leave us under the domination of political and religious prejudices

I love acting but I don’t like all of the other stuff associated with it. The interest in celebrities, the press, the Internet, when your identity becomes mixed up in the way people are perceiving you.

I appreciate the change associated with people’s growth, but I don’t like the changes in our lives. I came to Mumbai in 1945, so imagine my acceptance of the massive changes around. I have witnessed every kind of revolution.

Life does not proceed by the association and addition of elements, but by dissociation and division.

I learned that everybody is not your friend. You have to watch who you associate with and surround yourself with positive things and people who want to do something positive.

I don’t normally talk about my religion publicly because I don’t want people to associate me and my flaws with this beautiful thing. And I believe it is beautiful religion if you learn it the right way.

You can’t influence people you refuse to associate with.

We’re so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget the inner value, the rapture that is associated with being alive, is what it is all about.

The biggest gains come from associating with people u DONT agree with!