--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we insist on keeping Hell (or even…" description: "\"“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 in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/c-s-lewis-121_hell_if-we-insist-on-keeping-hell-or-even-ear_431169.jpg" --- # If we insist on keeping Hell (or even earth) we shall not… ![“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.” quote by C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/c-s-lewis-121_hell_if-we-insist-on-keeping-hell-or-even-ear_431169.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/c-s-lewis-121_hell_if-we-insist-on-keeping-hell-or-even-ear_431169.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/877/c-s-lewis-121_hell_if-we-insist-on-keeping-hell-or-even-ear_431169.jpg) > ““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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Heaven and Hell are mutually exclusive; embracing one precludes retaining the other's experiences. **In simple terms:** Choosing one excludes the other. Key Takeaway Consider the trade‑offs of belief. Themes theology choice dualism Mood inquisitive serious Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - religious practice - ethical decisions - personal growth Key Concepts spirituality existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What might be lost when we fully commit to one worldview? - Can we hold both perspectives? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [If we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-we-accept-heaven-we-shall-not-be-able-to-retain-even-the-smallest/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If we would accept heaven's life, we need by all means to live in the world and to participate in its duties and affairs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/if-we-would-accept-heaven-s-life-we-need-by-all-means-to-live-in-the/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [Accept that I enjoy being with you. Accept that when I'm with you I see Heaven in your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/accept-that-i-enjoy-being-with-you-accept-that-when-i-m-with-you-i/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [I shall spend every moment loving. One who loves does not notice her trials; or perhaps more accurately, she is able to love them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-soubirous/i-shall-spend-every-moment-loving-one-who-loves-does-not-notice-her/) [Bernadette Soubirous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-soubirous/) > [We pass now quickly from each other's sight; but I know full well that where beyond these passing scenes you shall be, there will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-chamberlain/we-pass-now-quickly-from-each-other-s-sight-but-i-know-full-well-that/) [Joshua Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-chamberlain/) > [“Ever peaceful be you slumber Though your days were few in number On this earth-spite took its toll- Yet shall heaven have your soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/ever-peaceful-be-you-slumber-though-your-days-were-few-in-number-on/) [Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/) > [May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, angles protect, and heaven accept you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/may-your-neighbors-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-angles-protect-and/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“Here’s a nice Irish saying for you: May neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and Heaven accept you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-shay/here-s-a-nice-irish-saying-for-you-may-neighbors-respect-you-trouble/) [Kathryn Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-shay/) > [Please let me die in your arms cause I may not be able to tell you how much I love you or you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhar/please-let-me-die-in-your-arms-cause-i-may-not-be-able-to-tell-you/) [Bhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhar/) > [Let your neighboors respect you, trouble neglect you, angels protect you, & heaven accept you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/let-your-neighboors-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-angels-protect/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [May your neighbor's respect you, trouble neglect you, angels protect you and heaven accept you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/may-your-neighbor-s-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-angels-protect/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [May your eighbours respect you,troubles neglect you, angels protect you, and heaven accept you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/may-your-eighbours-respect-you-troubles-neglect-you-angels-protect/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [“Only cut off a buttock of each of those ladies,' said he,'and you'll fare extremely well; if you must go to it again, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/only-cut-off-a-buttock-of-each-of-those-ladies-said-he-and-you-ll/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [May your neighbors respect you , trouble neglect you , angels protect you , & heaven accept you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/may-your-neighbors-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-angels-protect-you/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“May your neighbors respect you, Trouble neglect you, The angels protect you, And heaven accept you. Irish blessing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-thompson/may-your-neighbors-respect-you-trouble-neglect-you-the-angels-protect/) [Janice Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-thompson/) ## More by C.S. Lewis > [“At the moment, then, of Man’s victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/at-the-moment-then-of-man-s-victory-over-nature-we-find-the-whole/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Isn’t it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified of the other?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/isn-t-it-absolutely-essential-to-keep-a-fierce-left-and-a-fierce/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“All Hell is smaller than one pebble of your earthly world: but it is smaller than one atom of this world, the Real World.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/all-hell-is-smaller-than-one-pebble-of-your-earthly-world-but-it-is/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“the greatest service we can do to education today is to teach fewer subjects. No one has time to do more than a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-greatest-service-we-can-do-to-education-today-is-to-teach-fewer/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“If the Divine call does not make us better, it will make us very much worse. Of all bad men religious bad men are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-the-divine-call-does-not-make-us-better-it-will-make-us-very-much/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“The husband is the head of the wife just in so far as he is to her what Christ is to the Church -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-husband-is-the-head-of-the-wife-just-in-so-far-as-he-is-to-her/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“We use a most unfortunate idiom when we say, of a lustful man prowling the streets, that he "wants a woman". Strictly speaking, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/we-use-a-most-unfortunate-idiom-when-we-say-of-a-lustful-man-prowling/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Después de cada fracaso, pedid perdón, levantaos del suelo y volved a intentarlo. Muy a menudo, lo que Dios nos otorga primero no es…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/despu-s-de-cada-fracaso-pedid-perd-n-levantaos-del-suelo-y-volved-a/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Then two wonders happened at the same moment. One was that the voice was suddenly joined by other voices; more voices than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/then-two-wonders-happened-at-the-same-moment-one-was-that-the-voice/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/because-free-will-though-it-makes-evil-possible-is-also-the-only/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Laugh and fear not, creatures. Now that you are no longer dumb and witless, you need not always be grave. For jokes as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/laugh-and-fear-not-creatures-now-that-you-are-no-longer-dumb-and/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“When two humans have lived together for many years it usually happens that each has tones of voice and expressions of face which are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/when-two-humans-have-lived-together-for-many-years-it-usually-happens/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“He sees as well as you do that courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/he-sees-as-well-as-you-do-that-courage-is-not-simply-one-of-the/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“If you do not take the distinction between good and bad very seriously, then it is easy to say that anything you find in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-you-do-not-take-the-distinction-between-good-and-bad-very/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Now the whole offer which Christianity makes is this: that we can, if we let God have His way, come to share in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/now-the-whole-offer-which-christianity-makes-is-this-that-we-can-if/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) [Explore all 1,165 C.S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) ## More Hell quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“Hell is only loneliness, a place without play for the soul, a place without God. How could there be God in loneliness when God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/hell-is-only-loneliness-a-place-without-play-for-the-soul-a-place/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [Just when I thought that I was gtting better, boy was I wrong.. Things just turned to hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cupecake/just-when-i-thought-that-i-was-gtting-better-boy-was-i-wrong-things/) Cupecake > [I believe that on any trip to heaven, there are always detours through hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-finney/i-believe-that-on-any-trip-to-heaven-there-are-always-detours-through/) [Richard Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-finney/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I'm what is known as gradually disintegrating. I don't fear the next world, or anything. I don't fear hell, and I don't look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-what-is-known-as-gradually-disintegrating-i-don-t-fear-the-next/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Hey...Hey...What's up?. Nothing much, you? Nothing. K!..What the hell was the point of this communication?...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hey-hey-what-s-up-nothing-much-you-nothing-k-what-the-hell-was-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“ALAS, IF ALL HUMANS WERE WISE AND HAD MORE GOOD WILL THE WORLD WOULD BE A PARADISE NOW IT IS MOSTLY A HELL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/alas-if-all-humans-were-wise-and-had-more-good-will-the-world-would/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [It is through suppression that hells are formed in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/it-is-through-suppression-that-hells-are-formed-in-us/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) [Browse all 8,212 Hell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C.S. 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