Quotes about hell
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“Now hell and heaven grapple on our backs and all our old pretense is ripped away. Aye, and God's icy wind will blow.”

John Proctor
The Crucible (1953)

““The hell with the human race!” said Beatrice.
“You’re a member of it, you know,” said Rumfoord.
“Then I’d like to put in for a transfer to the chimpanzees!” said Beatrice. “No chimpanzee husband would stand by while his wife lost all her coconuts.””

Kurt Vonnegut book The Sirens of Titan

Source: The Sirens of Titan (1959), Chapter 2 “Cheers in the Wirehouse” (p. 52)

“There is no God, no universe, no human race, no earthly life, no heaven, no hell. It is all a Dream, a grotesque and foolish dream. Nothing exists but you. And You are but a Thought — a vagrant Thought, a useless Thought, a homeless Thought, wandering forlorn among the empty eternities.”

Mark Twain book The Mysterious Stranger

The Mysterious Stranger (1916)

Life, God, Dreams, Universe

“Just as seeing Heaven's light gave him an awareness of God's presence in all things in the mortal plane, so it has made him aware of God's absence in all things in Hell.”

Ted Chiang book Stories of Your Life and Others

Hell Is the Absence of God; first appeared in Starlight 3, 2001.
Stories of Your Life and Others (2002)

God, Light

“Long ago, many of the small hells that took place in the camps right next to my house showed the joy of living, and tirelessly despite everything”

Osamu Tezuka (1928–1989) Japanese cartoonist and animator

From Save the Planet of glass ; quoted in AA.VV., Osamu Tezuka: A Manga Biography , vol. 1, translated by Marta Fogato, Coconino Press, Bologna, 2000, p. 106. ISBN 888806303X

Joy, Housing

“I had a hell of a lot of will power! A hell of a will power, you understand? And it was very useful to me.”

Jeanne Calment (1875–1934) French supercentenarian who had the longest confirmed human life span in history

Source: Jeanne Calment: From Van Gogh's Time to Ours : 122 Extraordinary Years, 1998, p. 29

Understanding

“Are there any paranoids in the audience tonight? (the crowd cheers) Is there anyone who worries about things? (the crowd cheers again) Pathetic. This is for all the weak people in the audience! Is there anyone here who's weak? (the crowd cheers once more) This is for you, it's called Run Like Hell! (the song starts)”

Roger Waters (1943) English songwriter, bassist, and lyricist of Pink Floyd

During the Los Angeles performance of "The Wall" at the Los Angeles Arena, California, February 1980
Miscellaneous

People

“Down, down to hell; and say I sent thee thither.”

William Shakespeare Henry VI (play) Part 1-3

Richard of Gloucester, Act V, scene vi.
Henry VI, Part 3 (1592)

“Deep, deeper than we believe, lie the roots of sin; it is in the good that they exist; it is in the good that they thrive and send up sap and produce the black fruit of hell.”

Charles Williams (1886–1945) British poet, novelist, theologian, literary critic, and member of the Inklings

The Descent of the Dove (1939), Ch. 5

Lie

“Our faith should be expressed in working toward a better planet for our children and not the selfish, juvenile hope for a better afterlife for ourselves. I don't think anyone is going to Hell, because it only exists in the minds of people who wish ill will on others.”

Greg Graffin (1964) American musician

Bozell, Brent, Punk Rockers Knock Christmas, townhall.com, December 20, 2013, http://townhall.com/columnists/brentbozell/2013/12/20/punk-rockers-knock-christmas-n1766181, 2013-12-25

Children, People, Faith, Hope

“On that same plantation, there was the field Negro. The field Negroes — those were the masses. There were always more Negroes in the field than there were Negroes in the house. The Negro in the field caught hell. He ate leftovers. In the house they ate high up on the hog. The Negro in the field didn't get anything but what was left of the insides of the hog.”

Malcolm X (1925–1965) American human rights activist

Malcolm X Speaks (1965)

Housing

“One of the crucial elements to the analysis of morality is iterability. You can't play a degenerating game, because it degenerates, obviously. You want to play a game that at least remains stable across time. God, if you could really get your act together, maybe it could slowly get better. And of course, that's what you would hope for your family, right? That's what you're always trying to do, unless you're completely hell-bent on revenge and destruction. Is there a way that we can continue to play together that will make playing together even better the next day?”

Jordan Peterson (1962) Canadian clinical psychologist, cultural critic, and professor of psychology

Other

God, Family, Hope, Way

“Our preaching does not stop with the law. That would lead to wounding without binding up, striking down and not healing, killing and not making alive, driving down to hell and not bringing back up, humbling and not exalting. Therefore, we must also preach grace and the promise of forgiveness — this is the means by which faith is awakened and properly taught. Without this word of grace, the law, contrition, penitence, and everything else are done and taught in vain.”

Martin Luther (1483–1546) seminal figure in Protestant Reformation

Source: The Freedom of a Christian (1520), pp. 78-79

Faith, Law, Forgiveness

“It's like giving a glass of ice water to somebody in hell!”

Steve Jobs (1955–2011) American entrepreneur and co-founder of Apple Inc.

On how Apple is the largest developer for Microsoft Windows due to the popularity of its iTunes software, at the All Things Digital Conference 5 (30 May 2007) http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/30/steve-jobs-live-from-d-2007/, on stage with Bill Gates, Kara Swisher and Walter Mossberg. <br class="br">2000s

Water

“You're going to tell me that poverty's nothing to be ashamed of. It's not true, though. If you can't hide it, then it is something to be ashamed of. There's nothing you can do, you're ashamed just the same, the way you're ashamed when you leave a spot on somebody's table. No matter if it's deserved or not, honorable or not, poverty stinks. Yes, stinks, stinks like a ground-floor room off an airshaft, or clothes that need changing. You smell it yourself, as though you were made of sewage. It can't be wiped away. It doesn't help to put on a new hat, any more than rinsing your mouth helps when you're belching your guts out. It's around you and on you and everyone who brushes up against you or looks at you knows it. I know the way women look down on you when you're down at heels. I know it's embarrassing for other people, but the hell with that, it's a lot more embarrassing when it's you. You can't get out of it, you can't get past it, the best thing to do is get plastered, and here" (he reached for his glass and drained it in a deliberately uncouth gulp) "here's the great social problem, here's why the 'lower classes' indulge in alcohol so much more - that problem that countesses and matrons in women's groups rack their brains over at tea. For those few minutes, those few hours, you forget you're an affront to other and to yourself. It's no great distinction to be seen in the company of someone dressed lie this, I know, but it's no fun for me either.”

Stefan Zweig book The Post Office Girl

The Post Office Girl (published posthumously in 1982)

Women, People, Alcohol, Lie

“You and I, 22 million African-Americans — that's what we are — Africans who are in America. You're nothing but Africans. Nothing but Africans. In fact, you'd get farther calling yourself African instead of Negro. Africans don't catch hell. You're the only one catching hell. They don't have to pass civil-rights bills for Africans.”

Malcolm X (1925–1965) American human rights activist

The Ballot or the Bullet (1964), Speech in Cleveland, Ohio (April 3, 1964)

“The world is poor for him who has never been sick enough for this 'voluptuousness of hell':”

Friedrich Nietzsche book Ecce homo

"Why I am Destiny", 6. Trans. R. J. Hollingdale
Ecce Homo (1888)

World

“He who is the author of a war, lets loose the whole contagion of hell, and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death.”

Thomas Paine (1737–1809) English and American political activist

The Crisis No. V http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3741/3741-h/3741-h.htm#link2H_4_0009 <br class="br">1770s, The American Crisis (1776&ndash;1783)

Death, War

“Thy heaven doors are my hell gates.”

William Blake (1757–1827) English Romantic poet and artist

The Everlasting Gospel (c. 1818)
Context: The vision of Christ that thou dost see
Is my vision's greatest enemy.
Thine has a great hook nose like thine;
Mine has a snub nose like to mine.
Thine is the Friend of all Mankind;
Mine speaks in parables to the blind.
Thine loves the same world that mine hates;
Thy heaven doors are my hell gates.

“In this day and age, we need to revise the old saying to read, "Hell hath no fury like a bureaucrat scorned."”

Milton Friedman (1912–2006) American economist, statistician, and writer

"Bureaucracy Scorned" in Newsweek (29 December 1975), later published in Bright Promises, Dismal Performance : An Economist's Protest (1983)

“Tao mystics never talk about God, reincarnation, heaven, hell. No, they don't talk about these things. These are all creations of human mind: explanations for something which can never be explained, explanations for the mystery. In fact, all explanations are against God because explanation de-mystifies existence.”

Rajneesh (1931–1990) Godman and leader of the Rajneesh movement

Never Born, Never Died (2002)
Context: Tao mystics never talk about God, reincarnation, heaven, hell. No, they don't talk about these things. These are all creations of human mind: explanations for something which can never be explained, explanations for the mystery. In fact, all explanations are against God because explanation de-mystifies existence. Existence is a mystery, and one should accept it as a mystery and not pretend to have any explanation. No, explanation is not needed — only exclamation, a wondering heart, awakened, surprised, feeling the mystery of life each moment. Then, and only then, you know what truth is. And truth liberates.

God

“Each of us bears his own Hell.”
Quisque suos patimur manis.

Virgil book Aeneid

Variant: Each one his own hope.
Source: Aeneid (29–19 BC), Book VI, Line 743

“I have the utmost confidence that through your efforts we will eventually beat the hell out of those bastards — "You name them; I'll shoot them!"”

George S. Patton (1885–1945) United States Army general

Letter to Dwight D. Eisenhower (1942); to this Eisenhower replied: "I don't have the slightest trouble naming the hellions I'd like to have you shoot; my problem is to figure out some way of getting you to the place you can do it." as quoted in Eisenhower : A Soldier's Life (2003) by Carlo D'Este, p. 301
Context: Of all the many talks I had in Washington, none gave me such pleasure as that with you. There were two reasons for this. In the first place, you are about my oldest friend. In the second place, your self-assurance and to me, at least, demonstrated ability, give me a great feeling of confidence about the future … and I have the utmost confidence that through your efforts we will eventually beat the hell out of those bastards — "You name them; I'll shoot them!"

Confidence, Effort

“Heaven and Hell suppose two distinct species of men, the good and the bad; but the greatest part of mankind float betwixt vice and virtue.”

David Hume (1711–1776) Scottish philosopher, economist, and historian

Essay on the Immortality of the Soul
Context: Heaven and Hell suppose two distinct species of men, the good and the bad; but the greatest part of mankind float betwixt vice and virtue. -- Were one to go round the world with an intention of giving a good supper to the righteous, and a sound drubbing to the wicked, he would frequently be embarrassed in his choice, and would find that the merits and the demerits of most men and women scarcely amount to the value of either.

Men, Parting

“Twitter, as I understand it, is a sort of "Hell" that I was banished to upon death in my previous life.”

Dril Twitter user

dril in interviews
Context: Twitter, as I understand it, is a sort of "Hell" that I was banished to upon death in my previous life. In this abstract realm, the only thing I am certain of is that my cries are awarded "Favs" or "RTs" when they are particularly miserable or profane. These ethereal merits do nothing to ease my suffering, but I have deliriously convinced myself that gathering enough of them will impress my unseen superiors and grant me a promotion to a higher plane of existence. This is my sole motivation.

Life, Death, Understanding

“How in hell are you going to recognize a legitimate holy man when you see one if you don't even know a cup of consecrated chicken soup when it's right in front of your nose?”

Jerome David Salinger book Franny and Zooey

Franny and Zooey (1961), Zooey (1957)
Context: Even if you went out and searched the whole world for a master — some guru, some holy man — to tell you how to say your Jesus Prayer properly, what good would it do you? How in hell are you going to recognize a legitimate holy man when you see one if you don't even know a cup of consecrated chicken soup when it's right in front of your nose? Can you tell me that?

“I don't know if I'm closer to Heaven but
It looks like Hell down there.”

Kate Bush (1958) British recording artist; singer, songwriter, musician and record producer

Song lyrics, The Red Shoes (1993)
Context: I don't know if I'm closer to Heaven but
It looks like Hell down there.
These streets have never been paved with gold.

“The other gods! The other gods! The gods of the outer hells that guard the feeble gods of earth!… Look away… Go back… Do not see! Do not see!”

H.P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) American author

Fiction, The Other Gods (1921)
Context: The other gods! The other gods! The gods of the outer hells that guard the feeble gods of earth!... Look away... Go back... Do not see! Do not see! The vengeance of the infinite abysses... That cursed, that damnable pit... Merciful gods of earth, I am falling into the sky!

God

“O womenfolk, you should give charity and ask much forgiveness for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell.”

Muhammad (570–632) Arabian religious leader and the founder of Islam

Sahih Muslim, Book 001, Number 0142
Sunni Hadith
Context: It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Umar that the Messenger of Allah observed: O womenfolk, you should give charity and ask much forgiveness for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell. A wise lady among them said: Why is it, Messenger of Allah, that our folk is in bulk in Hell? Upon this the Holy Prophet observed: You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses. I have seen none lacking in common sense and failing in religion but (at the same time) robbing the wisdom of the wise, besides you. Upon this the woman remarked: What is wrong with our common sense and with religion? He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Your lack of common sense (can be well judged from the fact) that the evidence of two women is equal to one man, that is a proof of the lack of common sense, and you spend some nights (and days) in which you do not offer prayer and in the month of Ramadan (during the days) you do not observe fast, that is a failing in religion. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Tahir with this chain of transmitters.

Forgiveness

“One must live with all, e'en if life be hell: Crime makes shame, not monetary stricture”

Multatuli book Max Havelaar

Multatuli, Max Havelaar: Or the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company

Life

“You're the only ones zany enough to agonize over time and distance without limit, over mysteries that will never die, over the fact that we are right now determining whether the space voyage for the next billion years or so is going to be Heaven or Hell.”

Kurt Vonnegut book God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater

"Eliot Rosewater" to a group of science fiction writers
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (1965)
Context: I love you sons of bitches. You’re all I read any more. You're the only ones who’ll talk all about the really terrific changes going on, the only ones crazy enough to know that life is a space voyage, and not a short one, either, but one that’ll last for billions of years. You’re the only ones with guts enough to really care about the future, who really notice what machines do to us, what wars do to us, what cities do to us, what big, simple ideas do to us, what tremendous misunderstanding, mistakes, accidents, catastrophes do to us. You're the only ones zany enough to agonize over time and distance without limit, over mysteries that will never die, over the fact that we are right now determining whether the space voyage for the next billion years or so is going to be Heaven or Hell.

Time

“There is no world without Verona walls,
But purgatory, torture, hell itself.
Hence banishèd is banished from the world,
And world's exile is death. Then ""banishèd""
Is death mistermed. Calling death ""banishèd"",
Thou cuttest my head off with a golden axe
And smilest upon the stroke that murders me.”

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English playwright and poet

Death, World

“I wanted to stop all that because I couldn't stand hearing my little kid ask why I didn't stay home. I had been living at the Hawthorne Inn for fourteen months… If it wasn't for him, I'd have said, To hell with you fellows. We'll shoot it out.”

Al Capone (1899–1947) American gangster

Home

“Hell, it's a business… All I do is supply a public demand. I do it in the best and least harmful way I can. I can't change the conditions. I just meet them without backing up.”

Al Capone (1899–1947) American gangster

Way, Business, Change

“Are you Canadian? Oh, okay, 'cause you're sure as hell acting like one right now.”

Billie Joe Armstrong (1972) American singer and guitarist

“If you believe in any religion you cannot meditate. Religion is an interference in your meditation. Meditation needs no God, no heaven, no hell, no fear of punishment, and no allurement of pleasure.”

Rajneesh (1931–1990) Godman and leader of the Rajneesh movement

Source: Autobiography of a Spiritually Incorrect Mystic (2000), p. 10

God, Pleasure, Fear, Religion

“Yet of old the matter seemed even to be a law, and a certain law-giver among them bade the domestic slaves neither to use ointments when dry (i. e. except in bathing) nor to keep youths, giving the free this place of honor, or rather of shamefulness. Yet they, however, did not think the thing shameful, but as being a grand privilege, and one too great for slaves, the Athenian people, the wisest of people, and Solon who is so great among them, permitted it to the free alone. And sundry other books of the philosophers may one see full of this disease. But we do not therefore say that the thing was made lawful, but that they who received this law were pitiable, and objects for many tears. For these are treated in the same way as women that play the whore. Or rather their plight is more miserable. For in the case of the one the intercourse, even if lawless, is yet according to nature: but this is contrary both to law and nature. For even if there were no hell, and no punishment had been threatened, this were worse than any punishment. Yet if you say they found pleasure in it, you tell me what adds to the vengeance. For suppose I were to see a person running naked, with his body all besmeared with mire, and yet not covering himself, but exulting in it, I should not rejoice with him, but should rather bewail that he did not even perceive that he was doing shamefully.”

John Chrysostom (349–407) important Early Church Father

Women, People, Pleasure, Books

“Go to heaven for the climate, hell for the company.”

Mark Twain (1835–1910) American author and humorist

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/07/19/heaven-for-climate/

Funny

“I advise you to fear Allah alone, with no partner of associate. I advise you to treat the first Muhâjireen well and acknowledge their seniority. I advise you to treat the Ansār well, and show approval of those among them who do well, and forgive those among them who make mistakes. I advise you to treat the people of the outlying regions well, for they are a shield against the enemy and conduits of fay; do not take anything from them except that which is surplus to their needs. I advise you to treat the people of the desert well, for they are the original Arabs and the protectors of Islam. Take from the surplus of their wealth and give it to their poor. I advise you to treat ahl adh-dhīmmah well, to defend them against their enemies and not burden them with more than they can bear if they fulfill their duties towards the believers or pay the Jizyāh with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. I advise you to fear Allah and fear His wrath, lest you do anything wrong. I advise you to fear Allah with regard to the people, but do not fear the people with regard to Allah. I advise you to treat the people justly, and to devote yourself to looking after them and protecting them against their enemies. Do not show any favour to the rich over the poor. That will be better for your spiritual well being and will help to reduce your burden of sin, and it will be better for your Hereafter, until you meet the One Who knows what is in your heart. I instruct you to be strict with regard to the commands of Allah, His sacred limits and disobedience with all people, both relatives and others. Do not show any mercy to anyone until you have settled the score with him according to his offence. Treat all people as equal, and do not worry about who is as fault or fear the blame of the blamers. Beware of showing favouritism among the believers with regard to the fay that Allah has put you in charge of, lest that lead to injustice. Keep away from that. You are in a position between this world and the Hereafter. If you conduct your affairs justly in this world and refrain from indulgence, that will earn you faith and divine pleasure. I advise you not to let yourself or anyone else do wrong to ahl al-dhimmah. I advise you sincerely to seek thereby the Countenance of Allah and the Hereafter. I have chosen advice for you that I would offer to myself or my son. If you do as I have advised you and follow my instructions, you will have gained a great deal. If you don not accept it or pay attention to it, and do not handle your affairs in the way that pleases Allah, that will be a shortcoming on your part and you will have failed to be sincere, because whims and desires are the same and the cause of sin is Iblīs, who calls man to everything that will lead to his doom. He misguided the generations who came before you and led them to Hell, what a terrible abode. What a bad deal it is for a man to take the enemy of Allah as his friend, who calls him to disobey Allah. Adhere to the truth, strive hard to reach it and admonish yourself. I urge you by Allah to show mercy to the Muslims, honour their elderly, show compassion to their young ones and respect the knowledgeable ones among them. Do not harm them or humiliate them, and do not keep the fay for yourself lest you anger them. Do not deprive them of their stipends when they become due, thus making them poor. Do not keep them away on campaigns for so long that they end up having no children. Do not allow wealth to circulate only among the rich. Do not close your door to the people or allow the strong to oppress the weak. This is my advice to you, as Allah is my witness, and I greet you with peace.”

Umar (585–644) Second Caliph of Rashidun Caliphate and a companion of Muhammad

Umar ibn al-Khattab, Vol. 2, p. 389-390, also quoted in At-Tabqaat ul-Kabir, Vol. 3, p. 339
Last Advise

Bad luck, Children, People, Pleasure

“The world is full of kings and queens
Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams,
It’s heaven and hell, oh well.”

Ronnie James Dio (1942–2010) American singer

"Heaven and Hell" on Heaven and Hell (1980)
Lyrics

World, Dreams

“Religion is for people who’re afraid of going to hell. Spirituality is for those who’ve already been there.”

Vine Deloria Jr. (1933–2005) American writer

Commonly attributed to Deloria on the internet, or sometimes to a few others, but without legitimate sourcing, the earliest variant of this yet located is a single quotation in Awakened India Vo. 99 (1994) p. 327, ascribed to Fr. Patrick Collins, University of Notre Dame, USA:
Religion is for those who are afraid of going to hell. Spirituality is for those who know they have been there — perhaps through involvement with religion.
The next variant located is ascribed to an anonymous member of Alcoholics Anonymous in Illuminating the Heart: Steps Toward a More Spiritual Marriage (1996) by Barbara G. Markway, p. 28:
Religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell; spirituality is for those who have been there.
A variant also occurs in The Higher Power of the Twelve-Step Program: For Believers & Non-Believers (2001), by Glenn F. Chesnut, Ch. 1 : Discovering a Higher Power:
Religion is for people who're afraid of going to hell; twelvestep spirituality is for those who've been there.
Misattributed

People, Religion

“What I want you to take seriously, is what we have to do for the youth. Because we're coming up in a totally different world. This is not the same world that you had this is not 6th Street its not. You grew up, we grew up B. C. Before crack. That's just saying it all. You understand? We did not grow up without parents. You had parents that told you this and that and told you what went on back in the day. You have young kids, fourteen, coming home and their mama is smoking out, going to their best friend to get the product. You understand what I'm saying? So that means it's not just about you taking care of "your" child. It's about you taking care of "these children". It hurts that I got to, it bothers me, not hurts, that I have to sidestep my youth to stand up and do some shit that somebody else is suppose to be doing. You understand what I'm saying? There's too many men out here for me to be doing this, because it ain't my turn yet. I'm supposed to be following behind him getting the knowledge. I don't even got a chance to get the fucking knowledge. I can't go to college. There's too much problems out here. I don't got the money. Nobody does. You understand what I'm saying? So what I'm saying is, it's not as easy as we're mapping it out to be. We've got to stay real. Before we can be new African we've gotta be black first. You understand? We've gotta get our brothers from the streets like Harriett Tubman did. Why can't we look at that and see exactly what she was doing? Like Malcolm did, the real Malcolm, before the Nation of Islam. You've got to remember, this was a pimp. You know what I'm saying, we forgot about all that. In our strive to be enlightened we forgot about all our brothers in the street, about all our dope dealers, our pushers and our pimps, and that's who's teaching the new generation, because y'all not doing it. I'm sorry. But, it's the pimps and pushers who's teaching us. So, if you got a problem with how we were raised, its because they was the only ones who could do it. They the only ones who did it, because everybody else wanted to go to college, and you know, yeah everything's changed, they were the ones telling you 'the white man ain't shit, there you go, check this out young blood, you take this product, you switch it, you get money and that's how you beat the white man, you get money, you get the hell up out of here.'”

Tupac Shakur (1971–1996) rapper and actor

Nobody else did that. So I don't wanna hear shit about nobody telling me who I can't love and respect until you start doing what they did. To me, this is Mecca. This is the black family. You know what I'm saying? But, what makes it that much sadder, what makes me wanna cry, is that when I leave this place, so does Mecca. You understand what I'm saying? We're going back to the real deal. Right out there, you're going see the same sisters and Brenda, they're right out there, and y'all are going to get in your cars and drive the fuck home.
1990s, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Atlanta (1992)

Men, Money, Children, Youth

“Belief in eternal hell fire was an essential item of Christian belief until pretty recent times. In this country, as you know, it ceased to be an essential item because of a decision of the Privy Council, and from that decision the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York dissented; but in this country our religion is settled by Act of Parliament, and therefore the Privy Council was able to override Their Graces and hell was no longer necessary to a Christian. Consequently I shall not insist that a Christian must believe in hell.”

Bertrand Russell book Why I Am Not a Christian

What is a Christian? https://users.drew.edu/~jlenz/whynot.html (1927) <br class="br">1920s, Why I Am Not a Christian (1927)

Religion, Decision, Time, Country

“If there's a hell, I think it's an encyclopedia, and you can just look up what everyone in your life thought about you. And if there is a heaven, it's a wikipedia, and you can just change that.”

John Mulaney (1982) American actor and comedian

Life, Thinking, Change

“Thus heaven I’ve forfeited, I know it full well. My soul, once true to God, is chosen for hell.”

Karl Marx (1818–1883) German philosopher, economist, sociologist, journalist and revolutionary socialist

“The Pale Maiden” https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1837-pre/verse/verse24.htm (1837) ballad

God, Soul

“There is one very serious defect to my mind in Christ's moral character, and that is that He believed in hell. I do not myself feel that any person who is really profoundly humane can believe in everlasting punishment.”

Bertrand Russell book Why I Am Not a Christian

"The Moral Problem"
1920s, Why I Am Not a Christian (1927)

Feeling, Christ, Personality

“Shamanism is a journey of return. A warrior returns victorious to the spirit, having descended into hell. And from hell he brings trophies. Understanding is one of his trophies.”

Carlos Castaneda book The Wheel of Time

Source: The Wheel of Time: Shamans of Ancient Mexico, Their Thoughts About Life, Death and the Universe], (1998), Quotations from "The Power of Silence" (Chapter 18)

Understanding, Victory

“Remember that old saying: What the hell, use the bell!”

Bobby Heenan (1944–2017) American professional wrestler, professional wrestling commentator and manager

Source: World Wrestling Federation (1984-1993), WrestleMania VIII (1992)

“Because tens of millions of people have been destroyed practically, gone through absolute hell, and then suddenly they say, 'Well, it's all finished, let's forget it.' You don't forget it.”

Michael I of Romania (1921–2017) King of Romania (1927-1930, 1940-1947)

Source: About not forgetting the suffering communism had imposed on the Romanian people, in a 2009 interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, https://www.rferl.org/a/romania-king-michael-ww2-era-monarch-exits-limelight/27623319.html

People, Forgetting

“How do you console my mom or give her light support
Tellin' her her son's on life support?
And just imagine how my girl feel,
On the plane scared as hell that her guy look like Emmett Till.”

Kanye West (1977) American rapper, singer and songwriter

Through the Wire
Lyrics, The College Dropout (2004)

Life, Guy, Feeling, Imagination

“Some of us are livin' in an earthly heaven,
Lord, some of us are livin' in hell.
Yeah, we're livin' in hell,
Right here.”

Tina Turner (1939) singer, dancer, actress, and author

"That's My Purpose" on Nutbush City Limits (1973)
Lyrics

“Someone once told me the definition of Hell: The last day you have on earth, the person you became will meet the person you could have become.”

Unknown author

Personality

“You might well ask just what the hell he was thinking. The answer is, probably nothing at all. He'd probably say he was exercising his God-given right to stupidity.”

Markus Zusak book The Book Thief

Source: The Book Thief

God, Stupidity, Exercises, Thinking

“You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is.”

Ellen DeGeneres (1958) American stand-up comedian, television host, and actress

Variant: My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the heck she is.

Funny

“Life moves very fast. It rushes from heaven to hell in a matter of seconds.”

Paulo Coelho book Eleven Minutes

Variant: Life moves very fast. It rushes us from heaven to hell in a matter of seconds.
Source: Eleven Minutes (2003), p. 9.
Context: When we meet someone and fall in love, we have a sense that the whole universe is on our side. And yet if something goes wrong, there is nothing left! How is it possible for the beauty that was there only minutes before to vanish so quickly? Life moves very fast. It rushes from heaven to hell in a matter of seconds.

Life

“If you're ever in a big hotel lobby, and they start to play "The Blue Danube Waltz," get the hell out. Don't think. Run.”

Chuck Palahniuk book Choke

Source: Asfixia

Thinking

“Hell is oneself,
Hell is alone.”

T.S. Eliot (1888–1965) 20th century English author

“My imagination will get me a passport to hell one day.”

John Steinbeck book East of Eden

Source: East of Eden

Imagination

“Rosie: What the hell was that silence?
Steph: It sounds like something I’d like. It sounded nice.
Rosie: It was.”

Cecelia Ahern book Love, Rosie

Source: Love, Rosie

Silence

“They're still looking at him…. At Will…"
"Of course they are…. Look at him. The face of a bad angel and eyes like the night sky in Hell.”

Cassandra Clare book Clockwork Angel

Source: Clockwork Angel

Angels, Night

“Lewis: "Oh, no."
Kaitlyn: "Lewis?"
Lewis: "Hi, Kaitlyn. Hi. Rob."
Rob: "G'way, Lewis. I'm sleeping."
Kaitlyn: "Hi. Anna."
Anna: "Hi, Kait."
Lewis: "Hi, Anna."
Gabriel: "And good night, John-Boy! Shut the hell up, all of you!”

L.J. Smith (1965) American author

Source: The Strange Power

Boy, Sleep, Night

“You are my heaven, and you will always be my enternal hell!
~ Darling”

Sherrilyn Kenyon (1965) Novelist

Source: Born of Silence

“Oh, go to hell." But there wasn't any heat in the response.
"You're not supposed to smile when you say that.”

Nora Roberts book Carolina Moon

Source: Carolina Moon

Smile

“I was seized by remorse and the sense of guilt, which hurried me away to a hell of intense tortures as no language can describe”

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus

Source: Frankenstein

Sense

“But allow Riley to boss him around? Multiply "hell, no" by "dream on" and divide by "suck it," and the answer was "the wolf could bite the big one.”

Gena Showalter (1975) American writer

Source: Unraveled

Dreams, Wolf

“Basia coquum," Simon said. "Or whatever their motto is."
"It's 'Descensus Averno facilis est.' 'The descent into hell is easy," said Alec. "You just said "Kiss the cook."
"Dammit," said Simon. "I knew Jace was screwing with me.”

Cassandra Clare The City of Lost Souls

Source: City of Lost Souls

Kiss, Cooking

“This is just a temporary hell, not a permanent one”

Alice Sebold book The Lovely Bones

Source: The Lovely Bones

“The universe may not always play fair, but at least it's got a hell of a sense of humor.”

Candace Bushnell book Sex and the City

Source: Sex and the City

Sense, Universe

“The coldest depth of Hell is reserved for people who abandon kittens.”

Robert A. Heinlein book Friday

Source: Friday

People

“I'm scared," he says.
"I know," says the nurse.
"I want you all to go to Hell."
"That's natural.”

Neal Shusterman book Unwind

Source: Unwind

Nature

“If you never go out on that limb, you're missing a hell of a view.”

Jodi Picoult Plain Truth

Source: Plain Truth

“What the hell? Futility has its purposes in life." -- Talon.”

Sherrilyn Kenyon book Night Pleasures

Source: Night Pleasures

Life

“I glanced at my brother. "How the hell did you jump to that conclusion?!" I asked.
He just grinned and tapped the side of his head. "Brains, dear girl, brains."
I snorted softly."I wasn't aware that was where you kept your brains.”

Keri Arthur Australian writer

Girl

“I shall tell you where we are. We're in the most extreme and utter region of the human mind. A dim, subconscious underworld. A radiant abyss where men meet themselves. Hell, Netley. We're in Hell.”

Alan Moore book From Hell

Source: From Hell

Men

“We like companionship, see, but we can't stand to be around people for very long. So we go get ourselves lost, come back for a while, then get the hell out again.”

Jon Krakauer book Into the Wild

Source: Into the Wild

People

“The artist committing himself to his calling has volunteered for hell, whether he knows it or not. He will be dining for the duration on a diet of isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, and humiliation.”

Steven Pressfield (1943) United States Marine

Source: The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

Despair

“Regret of neglected opportunity is the worst hell that a living soul can
inhabit”

Rafael Sabatini (1875–1950) Italian writer

Soul

“He gave my hand a final shake. “Okay, Kemp,” he said with a grin. “Thanks a lot – you came through like a champ.” “Hell,” I said, starting the engine. “We’re all champs when we’re drunk.”

Hunter S. Thompson The Rum Diary

Source: The Rum Diary

“Valentine!"
"You mean father. I despise this modern habit of calling one's parents by their names."
"What I want to call you is a hell of a lot more unprintable than your name."
- Clary Fray and Valentine Morgenstern (City of Ashes)”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Source: City of Ashes

Parent

“Because people with that much spirit frighten the hell out of me. They make me want to be a better person when I know it's not possible.”

Melina Marchetta book On the Jellicoe Road

Source: On the Jellicoe Road

People, Personality

“If I was bound for hell, let it be hell. No more false heavens. No more damned magic.”

Jean Rhys book Wide Sargasso Sea

Source: Wide Sargasso Sea

Falseness

“You don't accomplish much by swimming with the mainstream. Hell, a dead fish can do that.”

Kinky Friedman (1944) Singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician

Fish, Dead

“Look. In all the years I've known him, there's always been exactly one place Simon wanted to be, and he's always fought like hell to make sure he got there and stayed there."
"Where's that?”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

"Wherever you were."
Luke and Clary, pg. 210-211
Source: The Mortal Instruments, City of Ashes (2008)

“Hell is other people.”

Sara Shepard Pretty Little Liars

Source: Pretty Little Liars

People

“We doctors know a hopeless case if — listen: there's a hell
of a good universe next door; let's go”

E.E. Cummings book 1 × 1

XIV : pity this busy monster, manunkind
1 x 1 (1944)
Variant: listen: there’s a hell
of a good universe next door; let’s go

Universe

“Are we letting her drink beer again?"
"Hell yes we are, and it's hilarious.”

Bryan Lee O'Malley (1979) Artist

Source: Scott Pilgrim, Volume 4: Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together

Drink, Beer

“It doesn’t matter. I love you. That’s it. That’s all. I hope to hell it’s enough.”

Maya Banks (1964) Author

Source: No Place to Run

Love, Hope

“Sometimes you can only find Heaven by slowly backing away from Hell.”

Carrie Fisher book Wishful Drinking

Source: Wishful Drinking

“All I know is, she's a pounding in my chest that I can't ignore… hell, that I don't WANT to ignore. [Rhage]”

Jessica Bird book Lover Eternal

Source: Lover Eternal

“The Angels don’t like to be called losers, but they have learned to live with it. “Yeah, I guess I am,” said one. “But you’re looking at one loser who’s going to make a hell of a scene on the way out.”

Hunter S. Thompson (1937–2005) American journalist and author

Source: Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga

Angels, Way, Learning

“I was a fool! Loving someone who doesn't love you is hell! Don't ever let anyone convince you that you can be happy with someone who doesn't love you.”

Judith McNaught (1944) American writer

Source: Once and Always

Love, Happiness, Fools

“What the hell kind of revolution have you got just tossing out big words that working-class people can't understand?”

Haruki Murakami book Norwegian Wood

Source: Norwegian Wood

People, Understanding

“What the hell makes you smart?" I asked.
"I wouldn't go for coffee with you."
"Listen - I wouldn't ask you."
"That," she replied, "is what makes you stupid.”

Erich Segal book Love Story

Variant: What the hell makes you so smart?" I asked. "I wouldn't go for coffee with you, " she answered. "Listen -- I wouldn't ask you." "That, "she replied "is what makes you stupid.
Source: Love Story

Stupidity, Coffee