Baron d’Holbach, System of Nature (1770) The enlightened man, is man in his maturity, in his perfection; who is capable of pursuing his own happiness; because he has learned to examine, to think for himself, and not to take that for truth upon the authority of others, which experience has taught him examination will frequently prove erroneous.
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Temple of Urania, Georg Celer's frontispiece for Keplers
Rudolphine Tables, 1627 Immanuel Kant, What Is Enlightenment?
(1784) Enlightenment is mans leaving his self-caused immaturity.
Immaturity is the incapacity to use ones intelligence without the
guidance of another. Such immaturity is self-caused if it is not
caused by lack of intelligence, but by lack of determination and
courage to use ones intelligence without being guided by another.
Sapere Aude! (Dare to Know!) Have the courage to use your own
intelligence! is therefore the motto of the Enlightenment. Baron
dHolbach, System of Nature (1770) The enlightened man, is man in
his maturity, in his perfection; who is capable of pursuing his own
happiness; because he has learned to examine, to think for himself,
and not to take that for truth upon the authority of others, which
experience has taught him examination will frequently prove
erroneous.
