--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I should ever die, God forbid, let…" description: "\"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS MUSIC\" — Kurt Vonnegut" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/kurt-vonnegut-41_epitaph_if-i-should-ever-die-god-forbid-let-this_1187168.jpg" --- # If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph… ![“If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS MUSIC” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/kurt-vonnegut-41_epitaph_if-i-should-ever-die-god-forbid-let-this_1187168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/kurt-vonnegut-41_epitaph_if-i-should-ever-die-god-forbid-let-this_1187168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/kurt-vonnegut-41_epitaph_if-i-should-ever-die-god-forbid-let-this_1187168.jpg) > “If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS MUSIC” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music serves as undeniable evidence of a higher power, suggesting art transcends rational proof. **In simple terms:** Music proves God's existence. Key Takeaway Listen to music for spiritual insight. Themes faith art philosophy Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - church services - personal contemplation - creative inspiration Key Concepts aesthetic experience existential proof Questions to Reflect On - How does music affect your belief? - Can art replace logical evidence? A Different Perspective Artistic proof is subjective and culturally dependent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Epitaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-of-god/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [“THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS MUSIC.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-only-proof-he-needed-of-the-existence-of-god-was-music/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/the-only-proof-he-needed-for-the-existence-of-god-was-music/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [Music is, to me, proof of the existence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/music-is-to-me-proof-of-the-existence-of-god/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [The only proof he needed for the existance of God was music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-only-proof-he-needed-for-the-existance-of-god-was-music/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“A man must be ignorant of himself before he can be ignorant of the existence of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-symington/a-man-must-be-ignorant-of-himself-before-he-can-be-ignorant-of-the/) [William Symington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-symington/) > [“Nothing whatsoever, not even the existence of God to His lovers, can be proved, but that every man, if he is to live at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/nothing-whatsoever-not-even-the-existence-of-god-to-his-lovers-can-be/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [The orthodox believers in God are divided into two camps, one of which maintains that the existence of God is as demonstrable as any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/the-orthodox-believers-in-god-are-divided-into-two-camps-one-of-which/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [“The question that preoccupied the Fathers was not to know if God existed or not - the existence of God was a "given" for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-zizioulas/the-question-that-preoccupied-the-fathers-was-not-to-know-if-god/) [John D. Zizioulas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-zizioulas/) > [The only proof for the existence of God is that without God you couldn't prove anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-van-til/the-only-proof-for-the-existence-of-god-is-that-without-god-you/) [Cornelius Van Til](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-van-til/) > [You have to respect the existence of God. If He has given you the power to throw your weight around, then you mustn't misuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raveena-tandon/you-have-to-respect-the-existence-of-god-if-he-has-given-you-the/) [Raveena Tandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raveena-tandon/) > [In the christian view, the ultimate evidence for the existence of God is Jesus Christ. If there is a God, we characters in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-the-christian-view-the-ultimate-evidence-for-the-existence-of-god/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The death of a child is the greatest reason to doubt the existence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/the-death-of-a-child-is-the-greatest-reason-to-doubt-the-existence-of/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [For me the Beatles are proof of the existence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/for-me-the-beatles-are-proof-of-the-existence-of-god/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [Whenever I doubt the existence of God or the Goddess, I look at horses. Only God could have made a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/whenever-i-doubt-the-existence-of-god-or-the-goddess-i-look-at-horses/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“To YoYo Ma: "You playing is the best argument I've ever heard for the existence of God, because I don't really believe a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/to-yoyo-ma-you-playing-is-the-best-argument-i-ve-ever-heard-for-the/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/like-all-earthlings-at-the-point-of-death-mary-young-sent-faint/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“They were going back to the slaughterhouse for souvenirs of the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-going-back-to-the-slaughterhouse-for-souvenirs-of-the-war/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“There are plenty of good reasons for fighting," I said, "but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-are-plenty-of-good-reasons-for-fighting-i-said-but-no-good/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Explore all 2,089 Kurt Vonnegut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More Epitaph quotes > [If I were to write my epitaph... Epitaph? Hey, shut-up Albert. I'd want to be remembered as someone who loved his sport and tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/if-i-were-to-write-my-epitaph-epitaph-hey-shut-up-albert-i-d-want-to/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) > [Wouldn’t that make a charming epitaph? Here lies Cat. Killed not by fang, but Ferragamos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/wouldn-t-that-make-a-charming-epitaph-here-lies-cat-killed-not-by/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Epitaphs are cheap, and they do a poor chap a world of good after he is dead, especially if he had hard luck while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/epitaphs-are-cheap-and-they-do-a-poor-chap-a-world-of-good-after-he/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > ["Gun-wielding recluse gunned down by local police" isn't the epitaph I want. I am hoping for "Witnesses reported the sound up to two hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nicoll/gun-wielding-recluse-gunned-down-by-local-police-isn-t-the-epitaph-i/) [James Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nicoll/) > [I always thought I'd like my own tombstone to be blank. No epitaph, and no name. Well, actually, I'd like it to say 'figment.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-always-thought-i-d-like-my-own-tombstone-to-be-blank-no-epitaph-and/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Warm summer sun, shine kindly here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/warm-summer-sun-shine-kindly-here/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [My epitaph? My epitaph will be, 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/my-epitaph-my-epitaph-will-be-curiosity-did-not-kill-this-cat/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Either our history shall with full mouth Speak freely of our acts, or else our grave, Like Turkish mute, shall have a tongueless mouth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/either-our-history-shall-with-full-mouth-speak-freely-of-our-acts-or/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Lots of people can have girlfriends. But I can throw around guitars onstage! That'll be my epitaph: 'He never had a girlfriend, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/lots-of-people-can-have-girlfriends-but-i-can-throw-around-guitars/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Over the epitaph of this generation it will say ENTERTAINED TO DEATH.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/over-the-epitaph-of-this-generation-it-will-say-entertained-to-death/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [Sleep undisturbed within this peaceful shrine, Till angels wake thee with a note like thine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/sleep-undisturbed-within-this-peaceful-shrine-till-angels-wake-thee/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Someone once asked me what I want on my epitaph when I pass away. Just the words 'I tried.' That's what this game of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/someone-once-asked-me-what-i-want-on-my-epitaph-when-i-pass-away-just/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Poet: gardener of epitaphs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/poet-gardener-of-epitaphs/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) [Browse all 233 Epitaph quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS MUSIC", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kurt Vonnegut" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-i-should-ever-die-god-forbid-let-this-be-my-epitaph-the-only-proof/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Epitaph" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-i-should-ever-die-god-forbid-let-this-be-my-epitaph-the-only-proof/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/kurt-vonnegut-41_epitaph_if-i-should-ever-die-god-forbid-let-this_1187168.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/kurt-vonnegut-41_epitaph_if-i-should-ever-die-god-forbid-let-this_1187168.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/kurt-vonnegut-41_epitaph_if-i-should-ever-die-god-forbid-let-this_1187168.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD…” — Kurt Vonnegut", "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": "Kurt Vonnegut", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I should ever die, God...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-i-should-ever-die-god-forbid-let-this-be-my-epitaph-the-only-proof/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-i-should-ever-die-god-forbid-let-this-be-my-epitaph-the-only-proof/#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 } } ] } ```