The trouble with kingdoms of heaven on earth is that they’re liable to come to pass, and then their fraudulence is apparent for all to see. We need a kingdom of heaven in Heaven, if only because it can’t be realized.
—Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–90) English Journalist, Author, Media Personality, Satirist
Heaven is the work of the best and kindest men and women. Hell is the work of prigs, pedants and professional truth-tellers. The world is an attempt to make the best of Heaven and Hell.
—Samuel Butler
Great Spirit, give to me a heaven not so large as yours but large enough for me.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
I had a million questions to ask God: but when I met Him, they all fled my mind; and it didn’t seem to matter.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Essayist
Heaven must be an awfully dull place if the poor in spirit live there.
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940) Lithuanian-American Anarchist, Feminist
Look for me in the nurseries of Heaven.
—Francis Thompson (1859–1907) English Poet, Ascetic
How well I have learned that there is no fence to sit on between heaven and hell. There is a deep, wide gulf, a chasm, and in that chasm is no place for any man.
—Johnny Cash (1932–2003) American Country Music Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist
I own a cow in heaven, but I cannot drink her milk.
—African Proverb
The Word is the master key for the whole world, inasmuch as through its potency the doors of the hearts of men, which in reality are the doors of heaven, are unlocked.
—Baha’u’llah (1817–92) Founder of the Islamic Baha’i Movement
Heaven will be no heaven to me if I do not meet my wife there.
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) American Head of State
Heaven, the treasury of everlasting joy.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Many might go to Heaven with half the labor they go to hell.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
We send missionaries to China so the Chinese can get to heaven, but we won’t let them into our country.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
The generous who is always just, and the just who is always generous, may, unannounced, approach the throne of heaven.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
It is easier for a camel to pass through they eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Heaven has a road, but no one travels it; Hell has no gate but men will dig to get there.
—Chinese Proverb
Doctors are the signposts to heaven.
—German Proverb
There is no escape from heaven’s web.
—Japanese Proverb
Heaven means to be one with God.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
He who sees heaven in the water sees the fishes in the trees.
—Chinese Proverb
The kingdom of Heaven is within you… Seek ye first the kingdom of Heaven and all things will be added unto you.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Just because men do not like the cold, Heaven will not stop the winter.
—Chinese Proverb
One of the hardest lessons we have to learn in this life, and one that many persons never learn, is to see the divine, the celestial, the pure, in the common, the near at hand-to see that heaven lies about us here in this world.
—John Burroughs (1837–1921) American Naturalist, Writer
The hope of heaven under troubles is like wind and sails to the soul.
—Samuel Rutherford (1600–61) Scottish Presbyterian Theologian, Author
Men long for an afterlife in which there apparently is nothing to do but delight in heaven’s wonders.
—Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) American Jurist
Who seeks for heaven alone to save his soul may keep the path, but will not reach the goal; while he who walks in love may wander far, yet God will bring him where the blessed are.
—Henry van Dyke Jr. (1852–1933) American Author, Educator, Clergyman
Smile… heaven is watching!
—African Proverb
To me heaven would be a big bull ring with me holding two barrera seats and a trout stream outside that no one else was allowed to fish in and two lovely houses in the town; one where I would have my wife and children and be monogamous and love them truly and well and the other where I would have my nine beautiful mistresses on nine different floors.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead.
—William Law (1686–1761) English Clergyman
On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it.
—Jules Renard (1864–1910) French Writer, Diarist
Heaven to me’s a fair blue stretch of sky, earth’s jest a dusty road.
—John Masefield (1878–1967) English Poet, Novelist, Playwright
Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
The net of heaven is large and wide, but it lets nothing through.
—Chinese Proverb
Heaven will be inherited by every man who has heaven in his soul.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Heaven is at the feet of mothers.
—Persian Proverb
The ink of the scholar and the blood of a martyr are of equal value in heaven.
—The Holy Quran Sacred Scripture of Islam
Heaven for climate, Hell for company.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
The intention of the Holy Ghost is to teach us how one goes to heaven, not how heaven goes.
—Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) Italian Astronomer, Physicist, Mathematician
If we insist on keeping Hell (or even earth) we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
You forget that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence: and the kingdom of heaven is like a woman.
—James Joyce (1882–1941) Irish Novelist, Poet
For each man produced by heaven, earth provides a grave.
—Chinese Proverb
Heaven is under our feet, as well as over our heads.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Heaven lent you a soul Earth will lend a grave.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Aim at heaven, and you will get earth thrown in; aim at earth, and you will get neither.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
Courage leads to heaven; fear leads to death.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Heaven wheels above you, displaying to you her eternal glories, and still your eyes are on the ground.
—Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Italian Poet, Philosopher
To be with God.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
A single prayer moves heaven.
—Japanese Proverb
It is heaven upon earth to have a man’s mind move in charity, rest in providence, and turn upon the poles of truth.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
If God hath made this world so fair, where sin and death abound, how beautiful, beyond compare, will paradise be found.
—James Montgomery (1771–1854) English Hymn writer, Poet, Editor, Humanitarian