--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper…" description: "\"I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an oyster-wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books were burnt; I am lean with seeing others eat -..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/christopher-marlowe-3449_book_i-am-envy-begotten-of-a-chimney-sweeper_3156609.jpg" --- # I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an… ![“I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an oyster-wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books were burnt; I am lean with seeing others eat - O that there would come a famine through all the world, that all might die, and I live alone; then thou should'st see how fat I would be! But must…” quote by Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/christopher-marlowe-3449_book_i-am-envy-begotten-of-a-chimney-sweeper_3156609.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/christopher-marlowe-3449_book_i-am-envy-begotten-of-a-chimney-sweeper_3156609.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a4/christopher-marlowe-3449_book_i-am-envy-begotten-of-a-chimney-sweeper_3156609.jpg) > “I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an oyster-wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books were burnt; I am lean with seeing others eat - O that there would come a famine through all the world, that all might die, and I live alone; then thou should'st see how fat I would be! But must thou sit and I stand? Come down, with a vengeance!” [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. The speaker envies others' abundance, wishing destruction of resources to level suffering, revealing destructive envy. **In simple terms:** Envy can drive destructive wishes. Key Takeaway Recognize and curb envy. Themes envy destruction poverty Mood melancholic critical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal relationships - social inequality - mental health Key Concepts human folly psychology social critique Questions to Reflect On - What fuels your envy? - How can you transform envy into motivation? A Different Perspective Envy blinds to gratitude and compassion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book burning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-burning/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Famine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famine/) [Faustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faustus/) [Live alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-alone/) [Seven deadly sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven-deadly-sins/) [Sweepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweepers/) [Vengeance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vengeance/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [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. Faustus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/cut-is-the-branch-that-might-have-grown-full-straight-and-burned-is/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“All beasts are happy, For, when they die, Their souls are soon dissolv'd in elements; But mine must live still to be plagu'd in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/all-beasts-are-happy-for-when-they-die-their-souls-are-soon-dissolv-d/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Why this is hell, nor am I out of it: Thinkst thou that I who saw the face of God, And tasted the eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/why-this-is-hell-nor-am-i-out-of-it-thinkst-thou-that-i-who-saw-the/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/the-stars-move-still-time-runs-the-clock-will-strike/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/faustus-had-i-as-many-souls-as-there-be-stars-i-d-give-them-all-for/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Faustus: Stay, Mephistopheles, and tell me, what good will my soul do thy lord? Mephistopheles: Enlarge his kingdom. Faustus: Is that the reason he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/faustus-stay-mephistopheles-and-tell-me-what-good-will-my-soul-do-thy/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [All places shall be hell that are not heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/all-places-shall-be-hell-that-are-not-heaven/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“Wagner Doctor Faustus' student and servant: "Alas, poor slave! See how poverty jests in his nakedness. I know the villain's out of service, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/wagner-doctor-faustus-student-and-servant-alas-poor-slave-see-how/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [ FAUSTUS. \[Stabbing his arm.\] Lo, Mephistophilis, for love of thee, I cut mine arm, and with my proper blood Assure my soul to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/faustus-stabbing-his-arm-lo-mephistophilis-for-love-of-thee-i-cut/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [... when all the world dissolves, And every creature shall be purified, All places shall be hell that are not heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/when-all-the-world-dissolves-and-every-creature-shall-be-purified-all/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“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/) > [... In relation to the way in which I look upon the works of God and his creatures, I will say that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-c-kimball/in-relation-to-the-way-in-which-i-look-upon-the-works-of-god-and-his/) [Heber C. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-c-kimball/) > [“His only-begotten Word, who is always present with the human race, united to and mingled with His own creation, according to the Father’s pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/his-only-begotten-word-who-is-always-present-with-the-human-race/) The Church Fathers > [Love, first begotten of all created things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgiana-goddard-king/love-first-begotten-of-all-created-things/) Georgiana Goddard King ## More by Christopher Marlowe > [“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/) > [“The mightiest kings have had their minions; Great Alexander loved Hephaestion, The conquering Hercules for Hylas wept; And for Patroclus, stern Achilles drooped. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/the-mightiest-kings-have-had-their-minions-great-alexander-loved/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“Till swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit, His waxen wings did mount above his reach, And melting heavens conspired his overthrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/till-swollen-with-cunning-of-a-self-conceit-his-waxen-wings-did-mount/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Ah fair Zenocrate, divine Zenocrate, Fair is too foul an epithet for thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/ah-fair-zenocrate-divine-zenocrate-fair-is-too-foul-an-epithet-for/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Accursed be he that first invented war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/accursed-be-he-that-first-invented-war/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [That perfect bliss and sole felicity, the sweet fruition of an earthly crown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/that-perfect-bliss-and-sole-felicity-the-sweet-fruition-of-an-earthly/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [If we say that we have no sin, We deceive ourselves, and there's no truth in us. Why then belike we must sin, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/if-we-say-that-we-have-no-sin-we-deceive-ourselves-and-there-s-no/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [O soul, be changed into little waterdrops, / And fall into the ocean, ne'er be found!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/o-soul-be-changed-into-little-waterdrops-and-fall-into-the-ocean-ne/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Above our life we love a steadfast friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/above-our-life-we-love-a-steadfast-friend/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“In summers heate and mid-time of the day To rest my limbes upon a bed I lay, One window shut, the other open stood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/in-summers-heate-and-mid-time-of-the-day-to-rest-my-limbes-upon-a-bed/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“The sight of London to my exiled eyes Is as Elysium to a new-come soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/the-sight-of-london-to-my-exiled-eyes-is-as-elysium-to-a-new-come-soul/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“Quod Me Nutrit Me Destruit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/quod-me-nutrit-me-destruit/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [What are kings, when regiment is gone, but perfect shadows in a sunshine day?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/what-are-kings-when-regiment-is-gone-but-perfect-shadows-in-a/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Time doth run with calm and silent foot, Shortening my days and thread of vital life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/time-doth-run-with-calm-and-silent-foot-shortening-my-days-and-thread/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“Come live with me and be my Love, And we will all the pleasures prove”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/come-live-with-me-and-be-my-love-and-we-will-all-the-pleasures-prove-2/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) [Explore all 129 Christopher Marlowe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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