--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: FAUSTUS. Had I as many souls as there be…" description: "\"FAUSTUS. Had I as many souls as there be stars, I'd give them all for Mephistophilis. By him I'll be great emperor of the world, And make a bridge thor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/christopher-marlowe-3449_air_faustus-had-i-as-many-souls-as-there-be_2015444.jpg" --- # FAUSTUS. Had I as many souls as there be stars, I'd give… ![“FAUSTUS. Had I as many souls as there be stars, I'd give them all for Mephistophilis. By him I'll be great emperor of the world, And make a bridge thorough the moving air, To pass the ocean with a band of men; I'll join the hills that bind the Afric shore, And make that country continent to Spain…” quote by Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/christopher-marlowe-3449_air_faustus-had-i-as-many-souls-as-there-be_2015444.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/christopher-marlowe-3449_air_faustus-had-i-as-many-souls-as-there-be_2015444.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/christopher-marlowe-3449_air_faustus-had-i-as-many-souls-as-there-be_2015444.jpg) > “FAUSTUS. Had I as many souls as there be stars, I'd give them all for Mephistophilis. By him I'll be great emperor of the world, And make a bridge thorough the moving air, To pass the ocean with a band of men; I'll join the hills that bind the Afric shore, And make that country continent to Spain, And both contributory to my crown: The Emperor shall not live but by my leave, Nor any potentate of Germany. Now that I have obtain'd what I desir'd, I'll live in speculation of this art, Till Mephistophilis return again.” [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faustus trades his soul for power, believing he can reshape the world with Mephistophilis’s aid. **In simple terms:** He bargains his soul for worldly domination. Key Takeaway Beware the cost of unchecked ambition. Themes ambition power hubris magic consequences Mood tragic dramatic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - political conquest - scientific breakthroughs - personal ambition - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts Faustian pact ego imperialism Questions to Reflect On - What are you willing to sacrifice for greatness? - Can any ambition justify moral compromise? A Different Perspective The promised power may be illusory and lead to ruin. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Continents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continents/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Crowns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowns/) [Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emperor/) [Emperor Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emperor-shall-3622732/) [Faustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faustus/) [Faustus Souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faustus-souls-3622730/) [Germany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/germany/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hills/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mephistophilis Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mephistophilis-return-3622731/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shore/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spain/) [Speculation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speculation/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Thorough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thorough/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“O, thou art fairer than the evening air Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars; Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter When he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/o-thou-art-fairer-than-the-evening-air-clad-in-the-beauty-of-a/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [What art thou Faustus, but a man condemned to die?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/what-art-thou-faustus-but-a-man-condemned-to-die/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight, And burned is Apollo's laurel bough, That sometime grew within this learned man. 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