--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can say that Faustus makes a choice…" description: "\"“We can say that Faustus makes a choice, and that he is responsible for his choice, but there is in the play a suggestion—sometimes explicit, sometimes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/650/sylvan-barnet-64429_determinism_we-can-say-that-faustus-makes-a-choice-a_1992514.jpg" --- # We can say that Faustus makes a choice, and that he is… ![“We can say that Faustus makes a choice, and that he is responsible for his choice, but there is in the play a suggestion—sometimes explicit, sometimes only dimly implicit—that Faustus comes to destruction not merely through his own actions but through the actions of a hostile cosmos that entraps…” quote by Sylvan Barnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/650/sylvan-barnet-64429_determinism_we-can-say-that-faustus-makes-a-choice-a_1992514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/650/sylvan-barnet-64429_determinism_we-can-say-that-faustus-makes-a-choice-a_1992514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/650/sylvan-barnet-64429_determinism_we-can-say-that-faustus-makes-a-choice-a_1992514.jpg) > ““We can say that Faustus makes a choice, and that he is responsible for his choice, but there is in the play a suggestion—sometimes explicit, sometimes only dimly implicit—that Faustus comes to destruction not merely through his own actions but through the actions of a hostile cosmos that entraps him. In this sense, too, there is something of Everyman in Faustus. The story of Adam, for instance, insists on Adam's culpability; Adam, like Faustus, made himself, rather than God, the center of his existence. And yet, despite the traditional expositions, one cannot entirely suppress the commonsense response that if the Creator knew Adam would fall, the Creator rather than Adam is responsible for the fall; Adam ought to have been created of better stuff.”” [Sylvan Barnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvan-barnet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote explores personal responsibility versus cosmic determinism, comparing Faustus and Adam as figures who choose self‑centered paths, yet are also shaped by larger forces that may share blame for their downfall. **In simple terms:** People are responsible for choices, but larger forces can also cause ruin. Key Takeaway Recognize both personal agency and external influences. Themes responsibility determinism hubris theology tragedy Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal decision making - literary analysis - theological debate - psychological reflection Key Concepts free will fate cosmic oppression ethical culpability Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal blame with external pressures? - Can destiny be blamed for moral failures? A Different Perspective The claim that a creator is responsible can undermine personal accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adam Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adam-responsible-3461593/) [Determinism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determinism/) [Everyman Faustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyman-faustus-3461594/) [Faustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faustus/) [Faustus Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faustus-makes-3461595/) [Faustus Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faustus-story-3461592/) [Introduction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introduction/) [Original sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-sin/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [I am not immortal. 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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/) > [Not the man in the moon, not the groaning-board, not the speaking of friar Bacon's brazen- head, not the inspiration of mother Shipton, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/not-the-man-in-the-moon-not-the-groaning-board-not-the-speaking-of/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“Being full of mischief, they love to listen; they gladly obey, for they like to betray you, pretending to be sent from Heaven, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goethe/being-full-of-mischief-they-love-to-listen-they-gladly-obey-for-they/) [Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goethe/) > [... 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/) > [“(Marlowe's) Faustus stubbornly reverts to his atheistic beliefs and continues his elementary pagan re-education ~ the inferno to him is a 'place' invented by men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/marlowe-s-faustus-stubbornly-reverts-to-his-atheistic-beliefs-and/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [In fine, a life of good or evil, the hope of Heaven or the despair of Hell, Faustus stands as a reminder that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-fine-a-life-of-good-or-evil-the-hope-of-heaven-or-the-despair-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) ## More by Sylvan Barnet > [“Something is wrong with a sentence when you can delete words and not sense the loss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvan-barnet/something-is-wrong-with-a-sentence-when-you-can-delete-words-and-not/) [Sylvan Barnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvan-barnet/) > [“Because most artists have not told us of their intentions, and beacause those artists ( and patrons or agents) who have stated their intentions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvan-barnet/because-most-artists-have-not-told-us-of-their-intentions-and/) [Sylvan Barnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvan-barnet/) > [“Outlining, in short, is not merely a way of organizing ideas but is also a way of getting ideas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvan-barnet/outlining-in-short-is-not-merely-a-way-of-organizing-ideas-but-is/) [Sylvan Barnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvan-barnet/) > [“Man is mortal. 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