--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There may not be a hell, but those who…" description: "\"There may not be a hell, but those who judge may create one. I think people are over-taught. They are over-taught everything. You have to find out by w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/426/charles-bukowski-73_believe_there-may-not-be-a-hell-but-those-who-ju_2652685.jpg" --- # There may not be a hell, but those who judge may create… ![“There may not be a hell, but those who judge may create one. I think people are over-taught. They are over-taught everything. You have to find out by what happens to you, how you will react. I'll have to use a strange term here... "good." I don't know where it comes from, but I feel that there's…” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/426/charles-bukowski-73_believe_there-may-not-be-a-hell-but-those-who-ju_2652685.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/426/charles-bukowski-73_believe_there-may-not-be-a-hell-but-those-who-ju_2652685.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/426/charles-bukowski-73_believe_there-may-not-be-a-hell-but-those-who-ju_2652685.jpg) > “There may not be a hell, but those who judge may create one. I think people are over-taught. They are over-taught everything. You have to find out by what happens to you, how you will react. I'll have to use a strange term here... "good." I don't know where it comes from, but I feel that there's an ultimate strain of goodness born in each of us. I don't believe in God, but I believe in this "goodness" like a tube running through our bodies. It can be nurtured. It's always magic, when on a freeway packed with traffic, a stranger makes room for you to change lanes... it gives you hope.” [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Innate goodness emerges through acts of kindness, offering hope amid life's chaos. **In simple terms:** Kindness reveals inner goodness. Key Takeaway Cultivate compassion daily. Themes kindness hope humanity Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - traffic encounters - daily interactions - community service - personal reflection Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you nurture goodness in yourself? - What small act can you do today? A Different Perspective Goodness may be hard to define or measure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-god/) [Believe Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-goodness-436104/) [Believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-god/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Don't believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-believe/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Freeways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freeways/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [God Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-believe/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Goodness Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness-born-1160495/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lanes/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Strain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strain/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Those who judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those-who-judge-190675/) [Traffic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traffic/) [Tubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tubes/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [It is not from reason that justice springs, but goodness is born of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-maeterlinck/it-is-not-from-reason-that-justice-springs-but-goodness-is-born-of/) [Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-maeterlinck/) > [“Every act of goodness is born from our desire to be happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udai-yadla/every-act-of-goodness-is-born-from-our-desire-to-be-happy/) [Udai Yadla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udai-yadla/) > [Evaluations, in essence, are … ways of being, modes of existence of those who judge and evaluate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-deleuze/evaluations-in-essence-are-ways-of-being-modes-of-existence-of-those/) [Gilles Deleuze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilles-deleuze/) > [I maintain that there is no common language or medium of understanding between people of education and without it - between those who judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/i-maintain-that-there-is-no-common-language-or-medium-of/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Those who judge children in their innocence, prove themselves the lesser of character and the greater of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/those-who-judge-children-in-their-innocence-prove-themselves-the/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [“when I drive the freeways I see the soul of humanity of my city and it's ugly, ugly, ugly: the living have choked the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/when-i-drive-the-freeways-i-see-the-soul-of-humanity-of-my-city-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I write to believe in goodness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-haircrow/i-write-to-believe-in-goodness/) [Red Haircrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-haircrow/) > [I believe in myself and the goodness in others, and I think anyone who rolls the dice with me has good odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-morgan/i-believe-in-myself-and-the-goodness-in-others-and-i-think-anyone-who/) [Sonja Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-morgan/) > [I know politics and politicians are hated, but I still believe in goodness of a heart that has selfless intentions. With the grace of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajyavardhan-singh-rathore/i-know-politics-and-politicians-are-hated-but-i-still-believe-in/) [Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajyavardhan-singh-rathore/) > [You don't believe in God, Rachel. You don't believe in goodness or love or mercy, do you?" "I haven't seen enough to form an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stuart/you-don-t-believe-in-god-rachel-you-don-t-believe-in-goodness-or-love/) [Anne Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stuart/) > [Christians don't believe that goodness gets you to heaven. Christians believe it's exhausting to rely on your own goodness to please God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/christians-don-t-believe-that-goodness-gets-you-to-heaven-christians/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I believe in goodness, mercy and charity. I believe in casting bread upon the waters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/i-believe-in-goodness-mercy-and-charity-i-believe-in-casting-bread/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [You have to be open to the energy. If you can open your heart to the energy, that great love energy, of this entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-manzarek/you-have-to-be-open-to-the-energy-if-you-can-open-your-heart-to-the/) [Ray Manzarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-manzarek/) > [“I tried to read that book again before I went to sleep. I didn’t like that book, but I kept going for all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/i-tried-to-read-that-book-again-before-i-went-to-sleep-i-didn-t-like/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [I believe in the goodness of man, and I believe we're all connected and that connection is through God. We have our differences. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/i-believe-in-the-goodness-of-man-and-i-believe-we-re-all-connected/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) ## More by Charles Bukowski > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [well, death says, as he walks by, I'm going to get you anyhow no matter what you've been: writer, cab-driver, pimp, butcher, sky-diver, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-death-says-as-he-walks-by-i-m-going-to-get-you-anyhow-no-matter/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“There is only one place to write and that is alone at a typewriter. A writer who has to go into the streets is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/there-is-only-one-place-to-write-and-that-is-alone-at-a-typewriter-a/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“nerves twitching in the sheets -- to face the sunlight again, that's clearly trouble. I like the city better when the neon lights are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nerves-twitching-in-the-sheets-to-face-the-sunlight-again-that-s/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Their Love Is Average, Seeks Average But There Is Genius In Their Hatred”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/their-love-is-average-seeks-average-but-there-is-genius-in-their/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I climbed the stairway (there was no elevator) and put the key in. The door swung open. Somebody had changed all the furniture around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-climbed-the-stairway-there-was-no-elevator-and-put-the-key-in-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Strangers when you meet, strangers when you part -a gymnasium of bodies namelessly masturbating each other. People with no morals often considered themselves more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/strangers-when-you-meet-strangers-when-you-part-a-gymnasium-of-bodies/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I like to change liquor stores frequently because the clerks got to know your habits if you went in night and day and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-like-to-change-liquor-stores-frequently-because-the-clerks-got-to/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I was like a turd that drew flies instead of like a flower that butterflies and bees desired. I wanted to live alone,I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-was-like-a-turd-that-drew-flies-instead-of-like-a-flower-that/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [It's 4:30 in the morning, it's always 4:30 in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/it-s-4-30-in-the-morning-it-s-always-4-30-in-the-morning/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I had no feeling for the things so many others needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-had-no-feeling-for-the-things-so-many-others-needed/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I am sick with caring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-am-sick-with-caring/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I went home each night dizzy and sick. He was murdering me with the sound of his voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-went-home-each-night-dizzy-and-sick-he-was-murdering-me-with-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“the nights you fight best are when all the weapons are pointed at you, when all the voices hurl their insults while the dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-nights-you-fight-best-are-when-all-the-weapons-are-pointed-at-you/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) [Explore all 1,492 Charles Bukowski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There may not be a hell, but those who judge may create one. I think people are over-taught. They are over-taught everything. You have to find out by what happens to you, how you will react. I'll have to use a strange term here... \"good.\" I don't know where it comes from, but I feel that there's an ultimate strain of goodness born in each of us. I don't believe in God, but I believe in this \"goodness\" like a tube running through our bodies. 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