--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So instead of getting to Heaven, at last…" description: "\"So instead of getting to Heaven, at last - I’m going, all along.\" — Emily Dickinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/emily-dickinson-310_going_so-instead-of-getting-to-heaven-at-last_483974.jpg" --- # So instead of getting to Heaven, at last - I’m going, all… ![“So instead of getting to Heaven, at last - I’m going, all along.” quote by Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/emily-dickinson-310_going_so-instead-of-getting-to-heaven-at-last_483974.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/emily-dickinson-310_going_so-instead-of-getting-to-heaven-at-last_483974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/emily-dickinson-310_going_so-instead-of-getting-to-heaven-at-last_483974.jpg) > “So instead of getting to Heaven, at last - I’m going, all along.” [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects that the journey toward heaven is less important than the ongoing experience of living fully now. **In simple terms:** Living now matters more than an afterlife goal. Key Takeaway Embrace the present moment. Themes existence spirituality mindfulness Mood contemplative hopeful Type poetic reflective When to use this quote - daily life - spiritual practice - personal growth Key Concepts impermanence presence Questions to Reflect On - What does “heaven” symbolize for you? - How can you honor both present and future? A Different Perspective It may overlook the value of future aspirations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Getting Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-heaven-1089247/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-going-1175174/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead/) [Instead Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-getting-1976659/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Preaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preaching/) ## Related quotes > [Getting into heaven has nothing to do with what we do for Christ, but rather what He has already done for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kimmel/getting-into-heaven-has-nothing-to-do-with-what-we-do-for-christ-but/) [Tim Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kimmel/) > [Nelson Mandela said to me that he thinks he's not getting into Heaven, I said, if you don't get in, I am screwed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/nelson-mandela-said-to-me-that-he-thinks-he-s-not-getting-into-heaven/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [“George Bush junior doesnt have to sweat over getting into heaven, his daddy already bought the place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teri-louise-kelly/george-bush-junior-doesnt-have-to-sweat-over-getting-into-heaven-his/) [Teri Louise Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teri-louise-kelly/) > [Kids today learn a lot about getting to the moon, but very little about getting to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/kids-today-learn-a-lot-about-getting-to-the-moon-but-very-little/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [For a while in my teens, I was sure I had it. It was about getting to heaven. If heaven existed and lasted forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/for-a-while-in-my-teens-i-was-sure-i-had-it-it-was-about-getting-to/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [Hopefully my greatest achievement will be getting into heaven!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-mcdonald/hopefully-my-greatest-achievement-will-be-getting-into-heaven/) [Tommy McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-mcdonald/) > [“One of our friends asked Fred about his thoughts on heaven when she was taking a walk with him on a Nantucket beach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/one-of-our-friends-asked-fred-about-his-thoughts-on-heaven-when-she/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [I'm not getting to heaven on my integrity. I'm not getting to heaven on my goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/i-m-not-getting-to-heaven-on-my-integrity-i-m-not-getting-to-heaven/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Getting into Heaven is not something you can earn or deserve. God makes that really clear in the scriptures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/getting-into-heaven-is-not-something-you-can-earn-or-deserve-god/) [Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/) > [The good news as Jesus preached it is not just about the minimal entrance requirements for getting into heaven when you die. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-good-news-as-jesus-preached-it-is-not-just-about-the-minimal/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Sometimes it's hell getting to heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-undertaker/sometimes-it-s-hell-getting-to-heaven/) [The Undertaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-undertaker/) > [“Instead of getting mad or getting even, get creative.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-williams/instead-of-getting-mad-or-getting-even-get-creative/) [Pat Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-williams/) > [When life knocks me down, instead of getting back up I usually just lie there and take a nap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-life-knocks-me-down-instead-of-getting-back-up-i-usually-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just once in my life it'd be nice to have things go my way instead of always getting screwed over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-once-in-my-life-it-d-be-nice-to-have-things-go-my-way-instead-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think one thing I've always focused on is getting better instead of getting somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hurd/i-think-one-thing-i-ve-always-focused-on-is-getting-better-instead-of/) [Ryan Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hurd/) ## More by Emily Dickinson > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I could not prove the Years had feet-/Yet confident they run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-could-not-prove-the-years-had-feet-yet-confident-they-run/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [How softly summer shuts, without the creaking of a door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/how-softly-summer-shuts-without-the-creaking-of-a-door/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Could you tell me how to grow--or is it unconveyed--like Melody--or Witchcraft?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/could-you-tell-me-how-to-grow-or-is-it-unconveyed-like-melody-or/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Inebriate of Air — am I — And Debauchee of Dew — Reeling — thro endless summer days — From Inns of Molten Blue —”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/inebriate-of-air-am-i-and-debauchee-of-dew-reeling-thro-endless/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/luck-is-not-chance-it-s-toil-fortune-s-expensive-smile-is-earned/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [The abdication of Belief Makes the Behavior small- Better an ignis fatuus Than no illume at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-abdication-of-belief-makes-the-behavior-small-better-an-ignis/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Longing is like a seed that wrestles in the ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/longing-is-like-a-seed-that-wrestles-in-the-ground/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“He ate and drank the precious words, His spirit grew robust; He knew no more that he was poor, Nor that his frame was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/he-ate-and-drank-the-precious-words-his-spirit-grew-robust-he-knew-no/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I SEE thee better in the dark, I do not need a light. The love of thee a prism be Excelling violet. I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-see-thee-better-in-the-dark-i-do-not-need-a-light-the-love-of-thee/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [One step at a time is all it takes to get you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/one-step-at-a-time-is-all-it-takes-to-get-you-there/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Whose fingers string the stalactite- Who counts the Wampum of the night”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/whose-fingers-string-the-stalactite-who-counts-the-wampum-of-the-night/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [My life closed twice before its close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/my-life-closed-twice-before-its-close/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Until you have loved, you cannot become yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/until-you-have-loved-you-cannot-become-yourself/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) [Explore all 692 Emily Dickinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) ## More Going 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/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I really enjoy going to play for the national team and be with the guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedi-osman/i-really-enjoy-going-to-play-for-the-national-team-and-be-with-the/) [Cedi Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedi-osman/) > [“I’m not even going to ask you where you got that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mackey/i-m-not-even-going-to-ask-you-where-you-got-that/) [Mark Mackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mackey/) > [This is how McGregor is, waging mental warfare before the fights. There's no way that guy is going to get in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/this-is-how-mcgregor-is-waging-mental-warfare-before-the-fights-there/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [For me, going to Minneapolis is like going to Mecca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/for-me-going-to-minneapolis-is-like-going-to-mecca/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/) [Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/) > [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [I want to help people struggling with whatever it is they're going through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santan-dave/i-want-to-help-people-struggling-with-whatever-it-is-they-re-going/) [Santan Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santan-dave/) [Browse all 15,485 Going quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So instead of getting to Heaven, at last - I’m going, all along.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emily Dickinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/so-instead-of-getting-to-heaven-at-last-i-m-going-all-along/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Going" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/so-instead-of-getting-to-heaven-at-last-i-m-going-all-along/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/emily-dickinson-310_going_so-instead-of-getting-to-heaven-at-last_483974.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/emily-dickinson-310_going_so-instead-of-getting-to-heaven-at-last_483974.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c11/emily-dickinson-310_going_so-instead-of-getting-to-heaven-at-last_483974.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So instead of getting to Heaven, at last - I’m going, all along.” — Emily Dickinson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Emily Dickinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "So instead of getting to Heaven,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/so-instead-of-getting-to-heaven-at-last-i-m-going-all-along/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/so-instead-of-getting-to-heaven-at-last-i-m-going-all-along/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```