--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who knows? If there is in fact, a heaven…" description: "\"Who knows? If there is in fact, a heaven and a hell, all we know for sure is that hell will be a viciously overcrowded version of Phoenix & a clean wel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/hunter-s-thompson-278_car_who-knows-if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-a_415938.jpg" --- # Who knows? If there is in fact, a heaven and a hell, all… ![“Who knows? If there is in fact, a heaven and a hell, all we know for sure is that hell will be a viciously overcrowded version of Phoenix & a clean well lighted place full of sunshine and bromides and fast cars where almost everybody seems vaguely happy, except those who know in their hearts what…” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/hunter-s-thompson-278_car_who-knows-if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-a_415938.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/hunter-s-thompson-278_car_who-knows-if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-a_415938.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/hunter-s-thompson-278_car_who-knows-if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-a_415938.jpg) > “Who knows? If there is in fact, a heaven and a hell, all we know for sure is that hell will be a viciously overcrowded version of Phoenix & a clean well lighted place full of sunshine and bromides and fast cars where almost everybody seems vaguely happy, except those who know in their hearts what is missing... And being driven slowly and quietly into the kind of terminal craziness that comes with finally understanding that the one thing you want is not there. Missing. Back-ordered. No tengo. Vaya con dios. Grow up! Small is better. Take what you can get...” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## 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 imagines an overpopulated, superficial afterlife contrasted with a bleak, missing sense of fulfillment, urging acceptance of modest, realistic desires. **In simple terms:** Life may feel empty despite external comforts; seek genuine satisfaction. Key Takeaway Accept modest, realistic goals instead of chasing empty perfection. Themes existential angst disillusionment acceptance realism search for meaning Mood melancholic cynical hopeful Type philosophical personal reflection When to use this quote - personal crisis - midlife reflection - cultural critique - self‑realization - philosophical rumination Key Concepts afterlife heaven hell materialism inner void Questions to Reflect On - What truly brings you lasting fulfillment? - How can you balance desire with realistic expectations? A Different Perspective The vivid metaphor may oversimplify complex emotional states. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Clean Well Lighted Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-well-lighted-place-219479/) [Craziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craziness/) [Dio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dio/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fast car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast-car/) [Fast cars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast-cars/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-hell/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Hell Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell-know-1175040/) [Hell Viciously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell-viciously-3697987/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Missing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missing/) [Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phoenix/) [Sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunshine/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [If there is in fact, a heaven and a hell, all we know for sure is that hell will be a viciously overcrowded version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-and-a-hell-all-we-know-for-sure-is-that/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [This new world was a vicious, sleek world made of street lights and tight jeans, sharp smiles and fast cars. This was a city,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/this-new-world-was-a-vicious-sleek-world-made-of-street-lights-and/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Straight roads are for fast cars, turns are for fast drivers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-mcrae/straight-roads-are-for-fast-cars-turns-are-for-fast-drivers/) [Colin McRae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-mcrae/) > [Unfortunately much of it is frittered away on fast cars, designer clothes and an attitude to pleasure reminiscent of the 18-30 holiday packages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-bates/unfortunately-much-of-it-is-frittered-away-on-fast-cars-designer/) [Ken Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-bates/) > [I'm a comic book artist. So I think to myself, what do I like to draw? I like to draw hot chicks, fast cars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-miller/i-m-a-comic-book-artist-so-i-think-to-myself-what-do-i-like-to-draw-i/) [Frank Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-miller/) > [It's the lifestyle of easy money, fast cars and supermodels that keep me going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-tin/it-s-the-lifestyle-of-easy-money-fast-cars-and-supermodels-that-keep/) [Christopher Tin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-tin/) > [I remember, as a young man, wanting to experience a car going at those speeds and being visually nourished by something which I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cooper/i-remember-as-a-young-man-wanting-to-experience-a-car-going-at-those/) [Dominic Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cooper/) > [Fast cars like Porsches and Ferraris - they are things of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/fast-cars-like-porsches-and-ferraris-they-are-things-of-beauty/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [See, what you're meant to do when you have a mid-life crisis is buy a fast car, aren't you? Well, I've always had fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/see-what-you-re-meant-to-do-when-you-have-a-mid-life-crisis-is-buy-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I admit to wasting my life messing around with fast cars and motorcycles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-yates/i-admit-to-wasting-my-life-messing-around-with-fast-cars-and/) [Brock Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-yates/) > [I had so many older brothers who beat up on me, so I'm a tough kid. I love mixed martial arts, weapons training, guns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/i-had-so-many-older-brothers-who-beat-up-on-me-so-i-m-a-tough-kid-i/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [I think challenges are what any decent writer would be all about. If you actually do find your slide and grease it, shame on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-think-challenges-are-what-any-decent-writer-would-be-all-about-if/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [I'm an ambitious person. I mean, if I did that... I would self-destruct, in the sense that the decadence would be too strong an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-packer/i-m-an-ambitious-person-i-mean-if-i-did-that-i-would-self-destruct-in/) [James Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-packer/) > [I don't know what to do with it. I'm very fortunate to have it, and it gives you room to maneuver. But the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-don-t-know-what-to-do-with-it-i-m-very-fortunate-to-have-it-and-it/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I have a passion for fast cars. To drive them means pure joy to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-emerick-aubameyang/i-have-a-passion-for-fast-cars-to-drive-them-means-pure-joy-to-me/) [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-emerick-aubameyang/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More Car quotes > [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [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/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. I don't think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-don-t-own-a-yacht-or-a-flashy-car-i-ve-always-had-safe-cars-because/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) > ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) > [The things that don't happen to us that we'll never know didn't happen to us. The nonstories. The extra minute to find the briefcase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/the-things-that-don-t-happen-to-us-that-we-ll-never-know-didn-t/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [I don't have to have the biggest house or the biggest car or the longest mink, but quality of life is really glamorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-don-t-have-to-have-the-biggest-house-or-the-biggest-car-or-the/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 6,849 Car quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who knows? If there is in fact, a heaven and a hell, all we know for sure is that hell will be a viciously overcrowded version of Phoenix & a clean well lighted place full of sunshine and bromides and fast cars where almost everybody seems vaguely happy, except those who know in their hearts what is missing... And being driven slowly and quietly into the kind of terminal craziness that comes with finally understanding that the one thing you want is not there. Missing. Back-ordered. No tengo. Vaya con dios. Grow up! Small is better. Take what you can get...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hunter S. Thompson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/who-knows-if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-and-a-hell-all-we-know-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Car" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/who-knows-if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-and-a-hell-all-we-know-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/hunter-s-thompson-278_car_who-knows-if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-a_415938.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/hunter-s-thompson-278_car_who-knows-if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-a_415938.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc0/hunter-s-thompson-278_car_who-knows-if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-a_415938.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Who knows? If there is in fact, a heaven and a hell, all we know for sure is that hell will be a viciously…” — Hunter S. Thompson", "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": "Hunter S. Thompson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Who knows? If there is in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/who-knows-if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-and-a-hell-all-we-know-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/who-knows-if-there-is-in-fact-a-heaven-and-a-hell-all-we-know-for/#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 } } ] } ```