--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Philosophy is odious and obscure; Both…" description: "\"“Philosophy is odious and obscure; Both law and physic are for petty wits; Divinity is basest of the three, Unpleasant, harsh, contemptible, and vile. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/christopher-marlowe-3449_fitness_philosophy-is-odious-and-obscure-both-la_1660017.jpg" --- # Philosophy is odious and obscure; Both law and physic are… ![“Philosophy is odious and obscure; Both law and physic are for petty wits; Divinity is basest of the three, Unpleasant, harsh, contemptible, and vile. 'Tis magic, magic that hath ravished me.” quote by Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/christopher-marlowe-3449_fitness_philosophy-is-odious-and-obscure-both-la_1660017.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/christopher-marlowe-3449_fitness_philosophy-is-odious-and-obscure-both-la_1660017.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/christopher-marlowe-3449_fitness_philosophy-is-odious-and-obscure-both-la_1660017.jpg) > ““Philosophy is odious and obscure; Both law and physic are for petty wits; Divinity is basest of the three, Unpleasant, harsh, contemptible, and vile. 'Tis magic, magic that hath ravished me.”” [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 condemns philosophy, law, and physics as trivial, elevating divine mystery as both repulsive and magical. **In simple terms:** Philosophy, law, physics seem petty; divinity feels both vile and wondrous. Key Takeaway Question the value of traditional knowledge versus the unknown. Themes skepticism religion knowledge Mood conflicted thoughtful Type theatrical philosophical When to use this quote - academic debate - spiritual crisis - creative inspiration Key Concepts metaphysics human curiosity Questions to Reflect On - What draws you to the mysterious? - How do you balance rational and irrational? A Different Perspective Dismissal may ignore useful insights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divinity/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Harsh Contemptible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harsh-contemptible-747238/) [Odious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odious/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Odious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-odious-747236/) [Wits Divinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wits-divinity-747237/) ## Related quotes > [“coparisons are odious”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archbishop-boiardo/coparisons-are-odious/) [Archbishop Boiardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archbishop-boiardo/) > [Comparisons are odious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/comparisons-are-odious/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“little. What an odious thing it is to be a woman, to be always ready, when you would rather not, when you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/little-what-an-odious-thing-it-is-to-be-a-woman-to-be-always-ready/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [ The same is true of ranking him thus against any work of literature. \[Bob Dylan\] has been made, through no fault of his own,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bennun/the-same-is-true-of-ranking-him-thus-against-any-work-of-literature/) [David Bennun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bennun/) > [“The word 'love,' used in connection with the reproduction of our species, is the most odious blasphemy taught in our times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-word-love-used-in-connection-with-the-reproduction-of-our-species/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [But most of us are apt to settle within ourselves that the man who blocks our way is odious, and not to mind causing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-most-of-us-are-apt-to-settle-within-ourselves-that-the-man-who/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [There are odious virtues; such as inflexible severity, and an integrity that accepts of no favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/there-are-odious-virtues-such-as-inflexible-severity-and-an-integrity/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [I really found this campaign odious. I couldn't get up for it. The quality of the candidates and the campaign, I just found the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-germond/i-really-found-this-campaign-odious-i-couldn-t-get-up-for-it-the/) [Jack Germond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-germond/) > [“Oh, there you are, you odious little prawn...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/oh-there-you-are-you-odious-little-prawn/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [The U.S. invaded the wrong country, destroying an odious government that was not responsible for 9/11. I don't know how you recover from invading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/the-u-s-invaded-the-wrong-country-destroying-an-odious-government/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [What is odious but . . . people . . . who toast their feet on the register. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsilio-ficino/what-is-odious-but-people-who-toast-their-feet-on-the-register/) [Marsilio Ficino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsilio-ficino/) > [One is not superior merely because one sees the world as odious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-ren-de-chateaubriand/one-is-not-superior-merely-because-one-sees-the-world-as-odious/) [François-René de Chateaubriand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-ren-de-chateaubriand/) > [What makes tar sands particularly odious is that the energy you get out in the end, per unit carbon dioxide, is poor. It's equivalent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/what-makes-tar-sands-particularly-odious-is-that-the-energy-you-get/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [When you see the misogyny of hip-hop, it's so horrible, it's so putrid, it's so, you know, odious, that we know, we smell, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/when-you-see-the-misogyny-of-hip-hop-it-s-so-horrible-it-s-so-putrid/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [All false practices and affections of knowledge are more odious to God, and deserve to be so to men, than any want or defect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sprat/all-false-practices-and-affections-of-knowledge-are-more-odious-to/) [Thomas Sprat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sprat/) ## 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. 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It is through and with your body that you have to reach realization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/it-is-through-the-body-that-everything-comes-to-the-mind-it-is/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [You are my inspiration and my folly. You are my light across the sea, my million nameless joys, and my day's wage. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/you-are-my-inspiration-and-my-folly-you-are-my-light-across-the-sea/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Our great thoughts, our great affections, the truths of our life, never leave us. Surely they can not separate from our consciousness, shall follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/our-great-thoughts-our-great-affections-the-truths-of-our-life-never/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [The end product of mixing your ability with Divinity is to better humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mbuko/the-end-product-of-mixing-your-ability-with-divinity-is-to-better/) [Michael Mbuko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mbuko/) > [As soon as I find myself in the presence of a rich man, I cannot help looking upon him as an exceptional and beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/as-soon-as-i-find-myself-in-the-presence-of-a-rich-man-i-cannot-help/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [I have now been an officer in this Church for a very long time. 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Within these the concepts vary greatly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-many-concepts-of-spirituality-among-them-various-notions-of/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Browse all 892 Divinity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divinity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Philosophy is odious and obscure; Both law and physic are for petty wits; Divinity is basest of the three, Unpleasant, harsh, contemptible, and vile. 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