Christopher Marlowe – 8 Quotes From the Man Who influenced Shakespeare

Believed to have born on this day in 1564 (definitely Baptised on the 26th but some sources have his birthdate as the 6th), Christopher Marlowe achieved a great deal in his short 29 years. Described as a spy, a brawler, and a heretic, as well as a “magician”, “duellist”, “tobacco-user”, “counterfeiter”, and “rakehell” there is very little known about his life other than it ended brutally when he was stabbed to death.
Born in the same year as William Shakespeare he is cited as one of the bard’s greatest influences and who knows what would have happened had he lived out his potential full lifespan.

Despite the shortness of his life, he was a prolific writer and left us with a plethora of quotes to choose from for this, his Birthday Blog.

“Hell is just a frame of mind.”

“Money can’t buy love, but it improves your bargaining position.”

“I am Envy…I cannot read and therefore wish all books burned.”

“Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscrib’d in one self place; but where we are is hell,
And where hell is, there must we ever be.”

“Virtue is the fount whence honour springs.”

“Accursed be he that first invented war.”

“I count religion but a childish toy
And hold there is no sin but ignorance.” 

“It lies not in our power to love or hate, For will in us is overruled by fate.”

Over 400 years has passed since Christopher Marlowe died and yet many of these quotes work as well today as they did when Marlowe was alive.