Age of Enlightenment Quotes

“the Enlightenment was simply an idea; the idea that a better understanding of our world and the people who occupy it could lead to the progression of our species and the betterment of the human condition on earth.”
― Hourly History, Age of Enlightenment: A History from Beginning to End

“Intellectually, the Enlightenment gave birth to the disciplines of political science, economic theory, anthropology, sociology, and modern philosophy—disciplines which still form the basis of how we attempt to understand life in the twenty-first century. The Enlightenment can be understood as a direct challenge to the status quo at a time when intolerant and superstitious religious beliefs dominated most people’s lives. Set free from the restraints of the Church, the state, and the monarchy, according to the Enlightenment, human beings would be able to improve society by focusing on developing the quality of material and social life.”
― Hourly History, Age of Enlightenment: A History from Beginning to End

“For Enlightenment philosophers, the overthrow of traditional institutions such as the Church and monarchy became a necessary step in the development of truly free thought and the continuation of scientific progress.”
― Hourly History, Age of Enlightenment: A History from Beginning to End

“Other Enlightenment philosophers felt that there was still a place for religion in society, but that religious observance should be an optional extra and not a mandatory component of life.”
― Hourly History, Age of Enlightenment: A History from Beginning to End

“His texts Discourse on Inequality and The Social Contract are considered some of the most influential works to come out of The Enlightenment.”
― Hourly History, Age of Enlightenment: A History from Beginning to End

“Another key philosopher was the ever-popular Voltaire (1694-1778) who used his literary skill to write plays, poems, novels, essays, and reams of letters that expressed his philosophical beliefs to the masses. Voltaire was extremely critical of the dogmatic nature of the Catholic Church and constantly campaigned for the separation of the French state and church. An advocate of freedom of expression and critic of all religious institutions, Voltaire’s work was frequently censored, but in his writing, he often used satire to mask his true beliefs, as in his most famous work, Candide.”
― Hourly History, Age of Enlightenment: A History from Beginning to End

“The Enlightenment began as a philosophical group of ideas with the common themes of reason and progress. Before it was ever referred to as a movement, a project, or a historical phenomenon, the Enlightenment was simply an idea; the idea that a better understanding of our world and the people who occupy it could lead to the progression of our species and the betterment of the human condition on earth.”
― Hourly History, Age of Enlightenment: A History from Beginning to End