Quotes from Pico Della Mirandola

man's place in the universe is somewhere between the beasts and the angels, but, because of the divine image planted in him, there are no limits to what man can accomplish....

To [man] it is granted to have whatever he chooses, to be whatever he wills.

You [Mankind] have been given no particular function. You may give your life whatever form you choose, do whatever you wish … you have no limitations, and can act in accord with your own free will. You alone can choose the limits of your nature.

You can lower yourselves to the level of the beast, but you can also be reborn as a divine creature by the free will of your spirit. Man can become what he likes - subhuman or superhuman, as he wishes.

Neither heavenly nor earthly, neither mortal nor immortal have we created thee, so that thou mightest be free according to thy own will and honor, to be thy own creator and builder. To thee alone we gave growth and development depending on they own free will. Thou bearest in thee the germs of a universal life.