--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never thought about heaven per se. I…" description: "\"I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're dead, you're dead. If anything happens after that, you just hope you don't go to hell.\" — Hele..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/helen-thomas-7044_go-to-hell_i-never-thought-about-heaven-per-se-i-th_89743.jpg" --- # I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're… ![“I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're dead, you're dead. If anything happens after that, you just hope you don't go to hell.” quote by Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/helen-thomas-7044_go-to-hell_i-never-thought-about-heaven-per-se-i-th_89743.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/helen-thomas-7044_go-to-hell_i-never-thought-about-heaven-per-se-i-th_89743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/helen-thomas-7044_go-to-hell_i-never-thought-about-heaven-per-se-i-th_89743.jpg) > “I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're dead, you're dead. If anything happens after that, you just hope you don't go to hell.” [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She expresses a pragmatic view of afterlife, focusing on the certainty of death and a vague hope to avoid hell rather than detailed theological speculation. **In simple terms:** Pragmatic afterlife view Key Takeaway Death is final; moral hope persists Themes afterlife mortality faith hope skepticism Mood thoughtful skeptical Type personal reflection philosophical When to use this quote - personal conversations - interviews - public speeches Key Concepts personal belief ethical concern Practical Applications - ethical counseling - public speaking on mortality Questions to Reflect On - What does this stance reveal about her values? - How does uncertainty about afterlife shape ethical behavior? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Go to hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go-to-hell/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven Se](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-se-1119501/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Think Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-dead-283024/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-heaven-467803/) ## Related quotes > [A single grateful thought toward heaven is the most perfect prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/a-single-grateful-thought-toward-heaven-is-the-most-perfect-prayer/) [Gotthold Ephraim Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/) > [“He couldn’t help but wonder what people might say at his funeral, or at his father’s, should it come to pass. He thought that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-berk/he-couldn-t-help-but-wonder-what-people-might-say-at-his-funeral-or/) [Ari Berk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-berk/) > [A single grateful thought toward heaven is the most complete prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotthold-lessing/a-single-grateful-thought-toward-heaven-is-the-most-complete-prayer/) [Gotthold Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-lessing/) > [I thought that I was in heaven But I was sure surprised Heaven help me, I didn't see The devil in your eyes You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/i-thought-that-i-was-in-heaven-but-i-was-sure-surprised-heaven-help/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [“To all of us the thought of heaven is dear --- Why not be sure of it and make it here? No doubt there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/to-all-of-us-the-thought-of-heaven-is-dear-why-not-be-sure-of-it-and-2/) [Omar Khayyám](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [I always thought that the U.S. was just amazing, and it was just a dream. I thought it was Heaven. Coming here a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-embiid/i-always-thought-that-the-u-s-was-just-amazing-and-it-was-just-a/) [Joel Embiid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-embiid/) > [When I escaped from China and came to Hong Kong, the contrast was that China was like hell and Hong Kong like heaven. Though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-lai/when-i-escaped-from-china-and-came-to-hong-kong-the-contrast-was-that/) [Jimmy Lai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-lai/) > [Devotion's self shall steal a thought from heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/devotion-s-self-shall-steal-a-thought-from-heaven/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I have tried if I could reach that great resolution . . . to be honest without a thought of Heaven or Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/i-have-tried-if-i-could-reach-that-great-resolution-to-be-honest/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [I remember laying next to you and thinking, how could heaven be better than this? Then you left me, and I thought, Heaven is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cori-morton/i-remember-laying-next-to-you-and-thinking-how-could-heaven-be-better/) [Cori Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cori-morton/) > [“It is more magnificent than what I thought heaven might be, and yet it is all of its wonder, as well.” ... "Iris, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-clegg/it-is-more-magnificent-than-what-i-thought-heaven-might-be-and-yet-it/) [Douglas Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-clegg/) > [To all of us the thought of heaven is dear -Why not be sure of it and make it here?No doubt there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-le-gallienne/to-all-of-us-the-thought-of-heaven-is-dear-why-not-be-sure-of-it-and/) [Richard Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-le-gallienne/) > [“I have often thought that if heaven had given me choice of my position and calling, it should have been on a rich spot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-often-thought-that-if-heaven-had-given-me-choice-of-my/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A grateful thought toward heaven is of itself a prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-edgar-block/a-grateful-thought-toward-heaven-is-of-itself-a-prayer/) [Rudolph Edgar Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-edgar-block/) > [I have often thought that if heaven had given me choice of my position and calling, it should have been on a rich spot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-often-thought-that-if-heaven-had-given-me-choice-of-my-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Helen Thomas > [President Bush has asserted the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on any American without a warrant in the name of fighting terrorism. He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/president-bush-has-asserted-the-right-to-wiretap-and-eavesdrop-on-any/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I'm of Arab background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-of-arab-background/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Anybody who runs for public office today has got to know his life or her life will be an open book. I've decided that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/anybody-who-runs-for-public-office-today-has-got-to-know-his-life-or/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [There are better ways we can transform this virulent hatred - by living our ideals, the Peace Corps, exchange students, teachers, exporting our music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/there-are-better-ways-we-can-transform-this-virulent-hatred-by-living/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I think I'll work all my life. When you're having fun, why stop having fun?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-think-i-ll-work-all-my-life-when-you-re-having-fun-why-stop-having/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [American journalism's crazy old aunt in the attic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/american-journalism-s-crazy-old-aunt-in-the-attic/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [“Today, because of the immediacy of the live TV appearance with the direct quote, the presidency seems hamstrung with governing by polls and turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/today-because-of-the-immediacy-of-the-live-tv-appearance-with-the/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Maybe the Jefferson case will give members of Congress second thoughts the next time they get ready to legislate away the rights of ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/maybe-the-jefferson-case-will-give-members-of-congress-second/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I'm a liberal, I was born a liberal, I'll be one 'til I die, what else should a reporter be when you see so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-a-liberal-i-was-born-a-liberal-i-ll-be-one-til-i-die-what-else/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [If you want to be President, decide it at the age of five, and then live accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/if-you-want-to-be-president-decide-it-at-the-age-of-five-and-then/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [We are the only institution in our society that can question a president on a regular basis and make him accountable. Otherwise, he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/we-are-the-only-institution-in-our-society-that-can-question-a/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I had a lot of fun bantering back and forth with Kennedy. But for ease and comfort, it would be Gerald Ford. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-had-a-lot-of-fun-bantering-back-and-forth-with-kennedy-but-for-ease/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [“Anybody in public life is well aware of how important the judgments of the press are. I'm firmly convinced that if the good Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/anybody-in-public-life-is-well-aware-of-how-important-the-judgments/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [All presidents rail against the press. It goes with the turf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/all-presidents-rail-against-the-press-it-goes-with-the-turf/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Get the hell out of Palestine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/get-the-hell-out-of-palestine/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) [Explore all 95 Helen Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) ## More Go to hell quotes > [In the particular dwells the tawdry. In the conceptual dwells the grand, the transcendent, the everlasting. Earthly countries and single malignant boys can go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/in-the-particular-dwells-the-tawdry-in-the-conceptual-dwells-the/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [ If that's the kind of person you want, vote for Hillary \[Clinton\], vote for \[Donald\] Trump - and you go to hell with both… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/if-that-s-the-kind-of-person-you-want-vote-for-hillary-clinton-vote/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [Let me go to hell, that's all i ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel/let-me-go-to-hell-that-s-all-i-ask/) [Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel/) > [If I had to lay bets, my bet would be that everything is going to go to hell, but, you know, what else have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/if-i-had-to-lay-bets-my-bet-would-be-that-everything-is-going-to-go/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [I want to be able to open up the really good treasures of the Church and Christianity to people, and that's not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-green/i-want-to-be-able-to-open-up-the-really-good-treasures-of-the-church/) [Alan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-green/) > [The name of the game is to talk to people. If you don't talk to people, you can't get started...You knock on twenty doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/the-name-of-the-game-is-to-talk-to-people-if-you-don-t-talk-to-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [Tell the devil to go to hell... that's where he belongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hart/tell-the-devil-to-go-to-hell-that-s-where-he-belongs/) [Mark Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hart/) > [ \[Enemies of Syria\] are the enemies of the people and the enemies of God. And the enemies of God will go to hell. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/enemies-of-syria-are-the-enemies-of-the-people-and-the-enemies-of-god/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Are you worried that, when you go to hell, you'll only be taking the local and not be on the express? Why would you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/are-you-worried-that-when-you-go-to-hell-you-ll-only-be-taking-the/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Never tell anyone to go to hell unless you can make 'em go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/never-tell-anyone-to-go-to-hell-unless-you-can-make-em-go/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [What's the condition of America like, spiritually, tonight? Zero. Why? Because we've got blind men coming out of seminaries. Men there don't teach them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/what-s-the-condition-of-america-like-spiritually-tonight-zero-why/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [As your governor, you’re going to be seeing a lot of me on the front page, saying ‘Governor LePage tells Obama to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lepage/as-your-governor-you-re-going-to-be-seeing-a-lot-of-me-on-the-front/) [Paul LePage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lepage/) > [I choose to ignore hell in my life. When I was a little kid I asked my Dad "Am I going to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/i-choose-to-ignore-hell-in-my-life-when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-asked-my/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [If I don't believe in Jesus, maybe I don't believe in Hell. Did you ever think of that? You're so excited about it, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kindler/if-i-don-t-believe-in-jesus-maybe-i-don-t-believe-in-hell-did-you/) [Andy Kindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kindler/) > [Satire is meant to have teeth; satire is meant to be dangerous. But it also happens to be fun because subversion and telling the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/satire-is-meant-to-have-teeth-satire-is-meant-to-be-dangerous-but-it/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) [Browse all 160 Go to hell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go-to-hell/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're dead, you're dead. 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