“In this time, when the games and abuses of secret societies were without end, I wanted to make use of this human weakness for a real and worthy goal, the welfare of mankind (…) I wanted what the heads of the ecclesiastical and secular powers should do and want by virtue of their offices.”

JOHANN ADAM WEISHAUPT, THE LAMP OF DIOGENES†, 1804, PG. 329.

†Diogenes. “Diogenes of Sinope (c. 404-323 BCE) was a Greek Cynic philosopher best known for holding a lantern (or candle) to the faces of the citizens of Athens claiming he was searching for an honest man.” (Joshua J. Mark, Diogenes of Sinope)