"Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness"

Christopher Marlowe’s assertion that “Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness” offers a penetrating look into the paradoxes of human desire and the nature of material abundance. When individuals find themselves in possession of more than they need, rather than satisfying their wants, they may become increasingly fixated on acquiring even more. Wealth, rather than quelling the hunger for possessions, often amplifies it, stoking a sense of yearning that becomes self-perpetuating. The possession of excess opens up a realm of possibilities, new pleasures, and opportunities for comparison, each leading to fresh wants and envies that were previously unimagined.

Accumulation breeds comparison: when a person has much, they are more acutely aware of what others possess, thus sparking competitive instincts and an insatiable drive to maintain or outstrip their comfort and status. The awareness of wealth’s potential reinforces a mindset where having “enough” shifts further away, replaced by the elusive pursuit of “more.” Covetousness, in this sense, arises not from need or lack, but from the endless horizons that wealth makes visible. The mind becomes occupied with protecting, increasing, and flaunting surplus rather than enjoying security or tranquility.

Moreover, excess can diminish appreciation for what one already possesses. Gratitude gives way to entitlement, and the impulse for acquisition overshadows contentment. The cycle of desire is thus endlessly fueled, trapping individuals in a persistence of wanting. Marlowe’s observation is as much psychological as it is social: societies saturated with wealth often cultivate cultures of envy, status-seeking, and unrest.

The statement serves as a warning that material abundance alone does not resolve the darker impulses of human nature. Rather, it can deepen internal longing, foster social division, and perpetuate dissatisfaction. The pursuit of moderation, then, is elevated as a means to guard against the corrosive effects of unchecked desire, highlighting the ancient wisdom that true fulfillment lies not in excess, but in balance and restraint.