Meandering forever . . .

Today is the birthday of Johann Adam Weishaupt (February 6, 1748 in Ingolstadt – November 18, 1830), philosopher and founder of the Order of Illuminati.

"Of all the means I know to lead men, the most effectual is a concealed mystery. The hankering of the mind is irresistible."
- Adam Weishaupt

"The great strength of our Order lies in its concealment; let it never appear in any place in its own name, but always concealed by another name, and another occupation. None is fitter than the lower degrees of Freemasonry; the public is accustomed to it, expects little from it, and therefore takes little notice of it. Next to this, the form of a learned or literary society is best suited to our purpose, and had Freemasonry not existed, this cover would have been employed; and it may be much more than a cover, it may be a powerful engine in our hands. … A Literary Society is the most proper form for the introduction of our Order into any state where we are yet strangers."
- Adam Weishaupt

"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."
- Adam Weishaupt

"By establishing reading societies, and subscription libraries, and taking these under our direction, and supplying them through our labors, we may turn the public mind which way we will."
- Adam Weishaupt

Weishaupt image source (1)