Quote by Immanuel Kant

Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed nonage. Nonage is the inability to use one's understanding without another's guidance. This nonage is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one's mind without another's guidance. Sapere Aude! Dare to Know! Have the courage to use your own understanding is therefore the motto of the Enlightenment.

Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed nonag

Summary

This quote by Immanuel Kant summarizes the essence of the Enlightenment period. It suggests that enlightenment occurs when individuals liberate themselves from their own self-imposed immaturity, characterized by the inability to think and act independently. Nonage, in this context, is the reliance on others to guide one's understanding instead of trusting one's own capacity for thought. Kant argues that true enlightenment requires the audacity to use one's own intellect without fear and to embrace personal rationality. "Sapere Aude!" serves as a call to action, urging individuals to have the courage to seek knowledge and truth through independent thinking.

By Immanuel Kant

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