Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola
Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Giovanni Pico della Mirandola was born as Giovanni Francesco Pico on February 23, 1463. He is commonly referred to by his surname, Pico, or his title, Count of Concord.
Birth and Death Dates
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February 23, 1463 – November 17, 1494
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Italian philosopher, humanist, and member of the noble House of Mirandola. Pico was a scholar and polymath who excelled in various fields, including philosophy, literature, mathematics, astronomy, and theology.
Early Life and Background
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Pico was born into the noble family of Mirandola in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. His father, Gianfrancesco II Pico della Mirandola, was a member of the Council of Reggio and served as the Count of Concord. Giovanni's early education took place under the tutelage of his uncle, Bernardo Bembo, who instilled in him a love for classical learning.
Major Accomplishments
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Pico's most notable achievement is the compilation of _Oration on the Dignity of Man_ (_De hominis dignitate_), also known as the "Oration," which laid the groundwork for the Renaissance humanist movement. This oration posits that humans possess a unique capacity for self-transformation and are endowed with free will.
Notable Works or Actions
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Pico's work encompasses various disciplines, including:
_De hominis dignitate_: A comprehensive treatise on the nature of humanity, where he affirms human potential through education.
_900 Theses_ (also known as _Conclusiones_): Pico's most famous work, a collection of 900 philosophical and theological propositions aimed at reconciling Aristotelianism with Christian theology. These theses sparked controversy in the Catholic Church and ultimately led to his excommunication.
* _Commento sopra la Canzone d'Amore di Giustino Mamertino_: A commentary on the poem _Canzone d'Amore_ by Justus of Todi, showcasing Pico's mastery of classical poetry.
Impact and Legacy
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Pico della Mirandola's works have had a profound impact on Western philosophy and intellectual history. His emphasis on human potential and the possibility of self-transformation has influenced thinkers such as Martin Luther, William Shakespeare, and Immanuel Kant.
The Renaissance humanist movement, led by Pico, sought to revive classical learning and promote individualism. This shift in perspective laid the groundwork for modern intellectual pursuits, including philosophy, literature, and science.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Giovanni Pico della Mirandola's works continue to inspire scholars and thinkers today due to their profound insights into human nature and potential. His commitment to bridging classical learning with Christian theology has left a lasting impact on Western intellectual history. The quotes from his writings offer wisdom on the importance of education, self-transformation, and individualism – principles that remain relevant in contemporary society.
Pico's legacy extends beyond the confines of academia; he represents the ideal Renaissance humanist: a polymath who embodied the pursuit of knowledge and intellectual curiosity. As such, his words continue to resonate with readers from diverse backgrounds, offering valuable insights into the complexities of human existence.
Quotes by Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola
Whatever seeds each man cultivates will grow to maturity and bear in him their own fruit. If they be vegetative, he will be like a plant. If sensitive, he will become brutish. If rational, he will grow into a heavenly being. If intellectual, he will be an angel and the son of God. And if, happy in the lot of no created thing, he withdraws into the center of his own unity, his spirit, made one with God, in the solitary darkness of God, who is set above all things, shall surpass them all.
But in its final creation it was not the part of the Father’s power to fail as though exhausted. It was not the part of His wisdom to waver in a needful matter through poverty of counsel.
It was not the part of His kindly love that he who was to praise God’s divine generosity in regard to others should be compelled to condemn it in regard to himself.
![To [man] it is granted to have whatever he chooses, to be whatever he wills.](/_vercel/image?url=https:%2F%2Flakl0ama8n6qbptj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fquotes%2Fquote-2007380.png&w=1536&q=100)
To [man] it is granted to have whatever he chooses, to be whatever he wills.
A sacred pride should grip us of not being satisfied with the mediocre but to strive (for we can do it, if we want to) with the exertion of all our strength to attain the highest. Let us scorn what is of this earth, let us ignore what is of heaven, let us leave absolutely everything worldly behind us in order to hasten to the abode out of this world, in the proximity of the sublime deity. We do not need to think of stepping back. Of being satisfied with second rank, let us strive for dignity and glory. To attain the highest.
Spiritual beings, either from the beginning or soon thereafter, become what they are to be for ever and ever.
At last the best of artisans ordained that that creature to whom He had been able to give nothing proper to himself should have joint possession of whatever had been peculiar to each of the different kinds of being.
On man when he came into life the Father conferred the seeds of all kinds and the germs of every way of life.
But, when the work was finished, the Craftsman kept wishing that there were someone to ponder the plan of so great a work, to love its beauty, and to wonder at its vastness.
If you see a philosopher determining all things by means of right reason, him you shall reverence: he is a heavenly being and not of this earth.