--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you believe that there’s a heaven and…" description: "\"If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell—or not getting eternal life or whatever—and you think that, well, it’s ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/penn-jillette-1046_awkward_if-you-believe-that-there-s-a-heaven-and_2204931.jpg" --- # If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell and people… ![“If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell—or not getting eternal life or whatever—and you think that, well, it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward. . . . How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How…” quote by Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/penn-jillette-1046_awkward_if-you-believe-that-there-s-a-heaven-and_2204931.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/penn-jillette-1046_awkward_if-you-believe-that-there-s-a-heaven-and_2204931.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/penn-jillette-1046_awkward_if-you-believe-that-there-s-a-heaven-and_2204931.jpg) > “If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell—or not getting eternal life or whatever—and you think that, well, it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward. . . . How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?” [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) ## 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 questions the moral paradox of withholding religious truth to avoid social discomfort, suggesting that avoiding proselytizing may stem from personal animus. **In simple terms:** Is it okay to hide beliefs to keep peace? Key Takeaway Consider honesty versus social harmony. Themes morality religion communication Mood thoughtful conflicted Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - personal relationships - public speaking - interfaith dialogue - online forums Key Concepts ethical paradox social awkwardness belief honesty Questions to Reflect On - Do you think silence is kinder than confrontation? - When is it appropriate to share personal convictions? A Different Perspective Not everyone shares the same urgency to share faith, and silence may protect relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Eternal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-life/) [Everlasting life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everlasting-life/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven and hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-hell/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Socially awkward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socially-awkward/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/how-much-do-you-have-to-hate-somebody-to-not-proselytize/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell . . . how much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/if-you-believe-that-there-s-a-heaven-and-hell-how-much-do-you-have-to/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I am a huge fan of proselytizing. I am a huge fan of speaking your mind. The only way we can share the universe...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-am-a-huge-fan-of-proselytizing-i-am-a-huge-fan-of-speaking-your/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [“Proselytizing is a moral imperative and feeds the marketplace of ideas. I want to hear everyone tell the truth as they see it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/proselytizing-is-a-moral-imperative-and-feeds-the-marketplace-of/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/improvident-habits-slovenly-systems-of-agriculture-sluggish-methods/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“proselytizing unknown alphabets augments the range of rapacity in your nerves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-rehman/proselytizing-unknown-alphabets-augments-the-range-of-rapacity-in/) Abdul Rehman > [How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries. Besides the fanatical frenzy which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/how-dreadful-are-the-curses-which-mohammedanism-lays-on-its-votaries/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Man is emphatically a proselytizing creature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/man-is-emphatically-a-proselytizing-creature/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The act of bellringing is symbolic of all proselytizing religions. It implies the pointless interference with the quiet of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/the-act-of-bellringing-is-symbolic-of-all-proselytizing-religions-it/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“I believe that any Christian who is qualified to write a good popular book on any science may do much more by that than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/i-believe-that-any-christian-who-is-qualified-to-write-a-good-popular/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Contributing to others, not converting others, but for those who are interested, going where invited, speaking when asked, teaching when asked and so on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surya-das/contributing-to-others-not-converting-others-but-for-those-who-are/) [Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surya-das/) > [“If you aren't destroying your enemies, it's because you have been conquered and assimilated, you do not even have an idea of who your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-aren-t-destroying-your-enemies-it-s-because-you-have-been/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“If free enterprise becomes a proselytizing holy cause, it will be a sign that its workability and advantages have ceased to be self-evident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/if-free-enterprise-becomes-a-proselytizing-holy-cause-it-will-be-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [People think that, that conversion to Judaism is just a modern phenomenon. But there was an era in the late Roman Empire Judaism was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/people-think-that-that-conversion-to-judaism-is-just-a-modern/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [All religious vows, codes, and commitments are null & void herein. Please refrain from contaminating the ideosphere with harmful memes through prayer, reverence, holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-erwin/all-religious-vows-codes-and-commitments-are-null-void-herein-please/) Greg Erwin ## More by Penn Jillette > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Part of the experience of being entertained is sitting back and plugging into someone else's vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/part-of-the-experience-of-being-entertained-is-sitting-back-and/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [That whole 99% thing, they are all in the 1% of the world. Every one of them pays a cellphone bill that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/that-whole-99-thing-they-are-all-in-the-1-of-the-world-every-one-of/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I will forever stick up for Catholics and Christians in general. With a small number of very horrible exceptions, they do play by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-will-forever-stick-up-for-catholics-and-christians-in-general-with/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I believe very much that the most damning thing you can say about Muslims is that you're afraid to say anything because they'll hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-believe-very-much-that-the-most-damning-thing-you-can-say-about/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I'm not bothered by the idea of getting old, or I guess you could say by having arrived at old. I was 10 when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-not-bothered-by-the-idea-of-getting-old-or-i-guess-you-could-say/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I'm always surprised when the corporate world does stupid things, because they're often not very stupid in hindsight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-always-surprised-when-the-corporate-world-does-stupid-things/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [It's only the losers named 'Dave' that think having an unusual name is bad, and who cares what they think? They're named 'Dave.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-s-only-the-losers-named-dave-that-think-having-an-unusual-name-is/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [The only secret of magic is that I'm willing to work harder on it than you think it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/the-only-secret-of-magic-is-that-i-m-willing-to-work-harder-on-it/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Well, it's not really the right word, but freedom is kind of a hobby with me, and I have disposable income that I'll spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/well-it-s-not-really-the-right-word-but-freedom-is-kind-of-a-hobby/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [It is really funny to see people that you know acting unpleasantly just because there are TV cameras on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-you-know-acting-unpleasantly/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [My whole take on libertarianism is simply that I don't know what's best for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/my-whole-take-on-libertarianism-is-simply-that-i-don-t-know-what-s/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Freedom means the right to be stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/freedom-means-the-right-to-be-stupid/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [“Once you've condoned faith in general, you've condoned any crazy shit done because of faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/once-you-ve-condoned-faith-in-general-you-ve-condoned-any-crazy-shit/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) [Explore all 302 Penn Jillette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) ## More Awkward quotes > [“I needed to stop staring at his bicep...and chest...and tattoo. Never thought the sun could be so...sexy. Wow. This was awkward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-needed-to-stop-staring-at-his-bicep-and-chest-and-tattoo-never/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Osborne and Roger knowing that the wife of the former was a Frenchwoman, and, conscious of each other's knowledge, felt doubly awkward; while Molly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/osborne-and-roger-knowing-that-the-wife-of-the-former-was-a/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“Having to talk to people was the one thing, but soliciting conversation was something else. 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I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-beautiful-the-day-we-met-but-now-i-m-not-so-sure-awkward-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm an American, and always will be. I happen to love that big, awkward, sprawling country very much - and its big, awkward, sprawling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/i-m-an-american-and-always-will-be-i-happen-to-love-that-big-awkward/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“That’s some awkward prose right there. Awkward like a Redditor talking to women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-s-some-awkward-prose-right-there-awkward-like-a-redditor-talking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the 1998 Oscars, I found myself in the bathroom in a stall, next to Tom Selleck. 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