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.
Giovanni Pico Della MirandolaRead
The Pythagoreans degrade impious men into brutes and, if one is to believe Empedocles, even into plants.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The Pythagoreans believed that immoral individuals are lesser beings, even compared to animals and plants.
This quote reflects a philosophical stance from Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola regarding moral degradation as perceived by the Pythagoreans. They believed that individuals who engage in impious or immoral actions lose their nobility and humanity, becoming akin to animals or even lower forms of life, such as plants, illustrating a deep connection between moral behavior and the essence of existence.
Themes
MoralityDegradationPhilosophyNatureExistence
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about moral philosophy, I could reference this quote to emphasize the consequences of unethical behavior.
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