--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hell is the place for people who did not…" description: "\"Hell is the place for people who did not live their lives according to the best of what was in them.\" — Harriet Rubin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/harriet-rubin-41304_accountability_hell-is-the-place-for-people-who-did-not_634605.jpg" --- # Hell is the place for people who did not live their lives… ![“Hell is the place for people who did not live their lives according to the best of what was in them.” quote by Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/harriet-rubin-41304_accountability_hell-is-the-place-for-people-who-did-not_634605.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/harriet-rubin-41304_accountability_hell-is-the-place-for-people-who-did-not_634605.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/harriet-rubin-41304_accountability_hell-is-the-place-for-people-who-did-not_634605.jpg) > “Hell is the place for people who did not live their lives according to the best of what was in them.” [Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hell is reserved for those who fail to live up to their inner best. **In simple terms:** Neglecting one's potential leads to suffering. Key Takeaway Strive to fulfill your inner potential. Themes morality purpose self‑actualization Mood serious inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career stagnation - personal crises - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts existential ethics inner potential Questions to Reflect On - What does “best of what was in them” mean to you? - How can you assess if you’re living fully? A Different Perspective Not all suffering is punitive; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accountability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [We can't live our lives according to what might have been. We have to live by what is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/we-can-t-live-our-lives-according-to-what-might-have-been-we-have-to/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“It is accounted unto you as righteousness IF you proceed according to the BEST light you have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/it-is-accounted-unto-you-as-righteousness-if-you-proceed-according-to/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“According to my best recollection, I don't remember.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-keogh/according-to-my-best-recollection-i-don-t-remember/) [Sean Keogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-keogh/) > [Each thing lives according to its kind; the heart by love, the intellect by truth, the higher nature of man by intimate communion with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/each-thing-lives-according-to-its-kind-the-heart-by-love-the/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [If we were always, indeed, getting our living, and regulating our lives according to the last and best mode we had learned, we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-we-were-always-indeed-getting-our-living-and-regulating-our-lives/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“GLORIA: Between Heaven and Hell—there is another place. This place: Hope. Hope—is located right over here in downtown Purgatory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/gloria-between-heaven-and-hell-there-is-another-place-this-place-hope/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [The definition of hell is a place where nothing connects with nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/the-definition-of-hell-is-a-place-where-nothing-connects-with-nothing/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [Did you know that Dog Heaven and Cat Hell were the same place?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/did-you-know-that-dog-heaven-and-cat-hell-were-the-same-place/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [If you're choosing theInternet over Church, Hell is your Place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickyville/if-you-re-choosing-theinternet-over-church-hell-is-your-place/) Mickyville > [Hell is not a place, it's a state of mind and body; hell is obsession with a voice, a face, a name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kay/hell-is-not-a-place-it-s-a-state-of-mind-and-body-hell-is-obsession/) [Susan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kay/) > [Hell is not a place you go, if you not a christian it's the failure of your lifes greatest ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/hell-is-not-a-place-you-go-if-you-not-a-christian-it-s-the-failure-of/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [“I think maybe Hell is a place. But you don't have to stay anywhere forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-think-maybe-hell-is-a-place-but-you-don-t-have-to-stay-anywhere/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Hell is a place on earth. Heaven is a place in your head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wojnarowicz/hell-is-a-place-on-earth-heaven-is-a-place-in-your-head/) [David Wojnarowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wojnarowicz/) > [HELL: A place where the police are German, the motorists French and the cooks English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/hell-a-place-where-the-police-are-german-the-motorists-french-and-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The Puritan's idea of hell is a place where everybody has to mind his own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/the-puritan-s-idea-of-hell-is-a-place-where-everybody-has-to-mind-his/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) ## More by Harriet Rubin > [Freedom is about what you can unleash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/freedom-is-about-what-you-can-unleash/) [Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) > [At some point, we all have to decide how we are going to fail: by not going far enough, or by going too far.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/at-some-point-we-all-have-to-decide-how-we-are-going-to-fail-by-not/) [Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) > [Women have so much power that even hearing the word power frightens them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/women-have-so-much-power-that-even-hearing-the-word-power-frightens/) [Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) > [Love thine enemies for the strengths they call up in us make them the instruments of our destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/love-thine-enemies-for-the-strengths-they-call-up-in-us-make-them-the/) [Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) > [“Freedom is actually a bigger game than power. Power is about what you can control. Freedom is about what you can unleash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/freedom-is-actually-a-bigger-game-than-power-power-is-about-what-you/) [Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) > [Advice is overrated. Before you learn what others know, you need to learn what YOU know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/advice-is-overrated-before-you-learn-what-others-know-you-need-to/) [Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) > [Do not feel trapped by the facts of your history. Your history is not some set of sacred facts. History is an interpretation, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/do-not-feel-trapped-by-the-facts-of-your-history-your-history-is-not/) [Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) > [Women have always been spies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/women-have-always-been-spies/) [Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) > [To be a leader in this new economy, you have to love risk-which means patterning your life on the heroic, not on the strategic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/to-be-a-leader-in-this-new-economy-you-have-to-love-risk-which-means/) [Harriet Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) [Explore all 10 Harriet Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/) ## More Accountability quotes > [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/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [Democracy is not being well served as we're accustomed to. There is less information, there's less investigation, there's less analysis, there's less accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-greenspon/democracy-is-not-being-well-served-as-we-re-accustomed-to-there-is/) Edward Greenspon > [I come from a world where accountability and accomplishments matter, and where titles and rhetoric take a back seat to results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-come-from-a-world-where-accountability-and-accomplishments-matter/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/) [Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/) > [Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-particular-principles-of-religion-are-a-subject-of-accountability/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) Philip Alston > [Responsible Development shares many practices with XP but the roots are different. Responsible Development's values are honesty, transparency, accountability and responsibility. These lead me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/responsible-development-shares-many-practices-with-xp-but-the-roots/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bullard/opinion-is-really-the-lowest-form-of-human-knowledge-it-requires-no/) Bill Bullard > [The American people deserve accountability over wasteful spending, and we accomplish that by prioritizing taxpayer dollars in a responsive and responsible manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/the-american-people-deserve-accountability-over-wasteful-spending-and/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [“There are many professions that require individuals, on an ongoing basis, to pass drug tests, physicals and psychological evaluations in order to keep their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/there-are-many-professions-that-require-individuals-on-an-ongoing/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [“Expecting accountability from the UN system was akin to expecting a blind dog to catch a flying Frisbee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-soussan/expecting-accountability-from-the-un-system-was-akin-to-expecting-a/) Michael Soussan [Browse all 860 Accountability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Hell is the place for people who did not live their lives according to the best of what was in them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harriet Rubin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/hell-is-the-place-for-people-who-did-not-live-their-lives-according/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accountability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/hell-is-the-place-for-people-who-did-not-live-their-lives-according/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/harriet-rubin-41304_accountability_hell-is-the-place-for-people-who-did-not_634605.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/harriet-rubin-41304_accountability_hell-is-the-place-for-people-who-did-not_634605.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/harriet-rubin-41304_accountability_hell-is-the-place-for-people-who-did-not_634605.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Hell is the place for people who did not live their lives according to the best of what was in them.” — Harriet Rubin", "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": "Harriet Rubin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-rubin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Hell is the place for people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/hell-is-the-place-for-people-who-did-not-live-their-lives-according/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-rubin/hell-is-the-place-for-people-who-did-not-live-their-lives-according/#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 } } ] } ```