"The first task of the association must therefore be to form the young members"

Adam Weishaupt, the founder of the Bavarian Illuminati, regarded the education and formation of youth as the foundation for building any enduring and effective association. By stating that the first task of the association must be to form the young members, he emphasizes the essential value of shaping the minds, morals, and principles of new recruits at an early stage. Young individuals, being more receptive and open to guidance, present fertile ground for instilling the ideals, discipline, and objectives necessary to carry forward the association’s aims.

Weishaupt recognized that established beliefs and habits in older individuals are difficult to change. In contrast, youth offer malleability, an opportunity to guide character and intellect before conventional social structures solidify their worldviews. This process involves more than superficial instruction; it is a concerted effort to immerse new members in the goals, ethical standards, and intellectual pursuits of the group, ensuring coherence and unity of purpose as the association matures.

Furthermore, this perspective reflects Enlightenment ideals, where education was seen as the primary means of liberating the human mind and fostering progress. By concentrating on youth, the association could ensure generational continuity, cultivating wise, ethical, and committed leaders for the future. The implication is not just about organizational efficiency but about genuinely uplifting individuals, preparing them for meaningful participation in public life and encouraging them to challenge ignorance, superstition, or tyranny.

Such an approach also serves as a safeguard against corruption, stagnation, or deviation from the founding principles. Trained from an early stage in the association’s doctrine and values, young members would be less likely to stray or dilute the original mission over time. Weishaupt’s statement, therefore, advocates for purposeful, structured nurturing of the next generation, which is vital both for the health of the group and for the broader ideals it seeks to actualize in society.