Oration on the Dignity of Man

Pico regularly refers to sources of ancient wisdom. These include Christian and Hebrew sources, as well as Greek, Islamic, and others. Religious scholars from different backgrounds often refer to overlapping concepts, such as cleanliness as a prerequisite for religion.

Pythagoras warned that people should remain mentally alert, limit pleasure and pain, and retain awareness of the divine. This preparation would enable one to perform sacred rites. Christian and Hebrew sources also advocate cleanliness as a prerequisite for study.

Pico describes Cabalists secretly passing down knowledge. According to Pico, who claims to have read the secret volumes, they acknowledge comparable ideas to Christianity. In the philosophy of Pythagoras, Pico sees concealed poetry.

Different sources of ancient wisdom would lead to the same conclusions. The Greeks took philosophical components from the nearby people and passed ideas on to subsequent civilizations. From his extensive studies, Pico derives his own philosophy.

According to the Chaldeans, the way to the heavens involves metaphorically watering oneself in virtue. Pico describes this as cleaning oneself through philosophy and theology.

Ancient Greek philosophers viewed cleaning rituals as necessary preparation for study. Hebrew and Christian theologians deemed cleaning rituals as important for study, too.

Pico describes animals as dirty. Man can become dirty like animals, or can cleanse himself to prepare for study.