Heaven ne’er helps the man who will not act.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Democracy is only a dream: it should be put in the same category as Arcadia, Santa Claus, and Heaven.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
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
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
Many might go to Heaven with half the labor they go to hell.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Heaven is at the feet of mothers.
—Persian Proverb
Of all the inventions of man I doubt whether any was more easily accomplished than that of a Heaven.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Earth gets its price for what Earth gives us,
The beggar is taxed for a corner to die in,
The priest hath his fee who comes and shrives us,
We bargain for the graves we lie in;
At the devil’s booth are all things sold,
Each ounce of dross costs its ounce of gold;
For a cap and bells our lives we pay.
Bubbles we buy with a whole soul’s tasking,
‘Tis heaven alone that is given away,
‘Tis only God may be had for the asking,
No price is set on the lavish summer;
June may be had by the poorest comer.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Poetry moves heaven and earth.
—Japanese Proverb
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
Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
To be with God.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
As for evildoers, for them awaits a painful chastisement; but for those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, they shall be admitted to gardens underneath which rivers flow, therein dwelling forever, by the leave of their Lord, their greeting therein: “Peace!”
—The Holy Quran Sacred Scripture of Islam
The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
I wonder whether they have rum and Coke in Heaven?. Maybe it’s too mundane a pleasure, but I hope so—as a sundowner. Except, of course, the sun never goes down there. Oh, man, this heaven is going to take some getting used to.
—Desmond Tutu (b.1931) South African Clergyman
We are as near to heaven as we are far from self, and far from the love of a sinful world.
—Samuel Rutherford (1600–61) Scottish Presbyterian Theologian, Author
Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The main object of religion is not to get a man into heaven, but to get heaven into him.
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) English Novelist, Poet
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
If I ever reach heaven I expect to find three wonders there: first, to meet some had not thought to see there; second, to miss some I had expected to see here; and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there.
—John Newton (1725–1807) English Clergyman, Writer
What power would hell have if those imprisoned there could not dream of heaven?
—Unknown
That happy sense of direct relation with Heaven is known evidently to multitudes of human souls of all faiths, and in all lands; evidently often a dream,—demonstrably, as I conceive, often a reality; in all cases dependent on resolution, patience, self-denial, prudence, obedience; of which some pure hearts are capable without effort, and some by constancy.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Heaven gives its glimpses only to those not in position to look too close.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
We talk about heaven being so far away. It is within speaking distance to those who belong there. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
In Heaven all the interesting people are missing.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Heaven finds an ear when sinners find a tongue.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
No man can resolve himself into Heaven.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
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
To us who are Christians, is it not a solemn, but a delightful thought, that perhaps nothing but the opaque bodily eye prevents us from beholding the gate which is open just before us; and nothing but the dull ear prevents us from hearing the ringing of those bells of joy which welcome us to the heavenly land?
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer