"Immaturity is the inability to use one's understanding without guidance from another."

"He has even become fond of this state and for the time being is actually incapable of using his own understanding, for no one has ever allowed him to attempt it."

in these two quotes from Immanuel Kant’s “What is Enlightenment?" Kant explains what he means by freedom. Freedom is when somone is able to break free of having others think for them and being able to use their own brain. this is also breaking free of "immaturity" which is having others think for you and having no opinion of your own. as well as breaking free of thoes who think for you because they wont allow you to think for yourself keeping you immature.



"All that is required for this is enlightenment is freedom; and particularly the least harmful of all that may be called freedom, namely, the freedom for man to make public use of his reason in all matters."

"that the obstacles to general enlightenment--to their release from their self-imposed immaturity--are gradually diminishing."

Kant feels that "freedom" is so central to Enlightenment because Enlightenment is using reason and in "immaturity" people dont use their own reason but let others think for them. these two things go together because you cant be enlightened without having some thoughts of your own.



"Consequently, only a few have succeeded, by cultivating their own minds, in freeing themselves from immaturity and pursuing a secure course. All that is required for this is enlightenment is freedom;"

to become enlightened a person needs to break free and have thier own opinions on things. the perfect enviorment to become enlightened would be a place where there are no distractions and when you dont worry about time and give yourself alot of time to think.




"first because our rulers have no interest in assuming the role of their subjects' guardians with respect to the arts and sciences, and secondly because that form of immaturity is both the most
pernicious and disgraceful of all. But the manner of thinking of a head of state who favors religious enlightenment goes even further, for he realizes that there is no danger to his legislation in allowing his subjects to use reason publicly and to set before the world their thoughts concerning better formulations of his laws, even if this involves frank criticism of legislation currently in effect."

in this it shows that a ruler that is enlightened would be open to reason and open to change some laws that may already be in effect. the ruler would listen to reason without thinking that this reason is a threat to his power.