This profound statement asserts that humans have the power to shape their own destiny, character, and identity through their choices and actions. It highlights the Renaissance belief in individual agency and the freedom to define one's own existence, rather than being predetermined by fate.
Quote by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola: “Man is the maker of himself.”
Man is the maker of himself.
Insight
Historical Context
This quote is from Pico's 'Oration on the Dignity of Man,' a foundational text of Renaissance humanism. It captured the era's shift from a purely theological worldview to one emphasizing human potential and capacity for self-determination, placing humanity at the center.
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Italian Renaissance philosopher best known for his Oration on the Dignity of Man, written in 1486 as a preface to his nine hundred theses and often called the manifesto of the Renaissance. He synthesised classical philosophy, Christian theology, and Jewish Kabbalah in a bold vision of human potential.
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