Emergence From Immaturity

In his 1784 essay “What Is Enlightenment?,” Kant wrote:

Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed immaturity….

It is all too easy for others to set themselves up as their guardians. It is so convenient to be immature!

If I have a book to have understanding in place of me, a spiritual advisor to have conscience for me, a doctor to judge my diet for me, and so on, I need not make any efforts at all.

I need not think, so long as I can pay; others will soon enough take the tiresome job over for me.