---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God cannot send to eternal pain a man who…"
description: "\"God cannot send to eternal pain a man who has done something toward improving the condition of his fellow-man. If he can, I had rather go to hell than ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_company_god-cannot-send-to-eternal-pain-a-man-wh_399248.png"
---

#  God cannot send to eternal pain a man who has done…

![“God cannot send to eternal pain a man who has done something toward improving the condition of his fellow-man. If he can, I had rather go to hell than to heaven and keep company with such a god.” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_company_god-cannot-send-to-eternal-pain-a-man-wh_399248.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_company_god-cannot-send-to-eternal-pain-a-man-wh_399248.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_company_god-cannot-send-to-eternal-pain-a-man-wh_399248.png)

> “God cannot send to eternal pain a man who has done something toward improving the condition of his fellow-man. If he can, I had rather go to hell than to heaven and keep company with such a god.”

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A deity would not punish someone who improves humanity; if so, one would prefer suffering over such a god.

**In simple terms:** A god who harms helpers is undesirable.

Key Takeaway

Question moral character of divine justice.

Themes

ethics theology justice

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical skeptical

When to use this quote

- social activism
- philosophical debates
- personal morality

Key Concepts

Divine justice humanitarianism

Questions to Reflect On

- What does this say about the nature of divine reward?

A Different Perspective

If a god exists, why allow suffering?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/)

## Related quotes

> [If there is a God who will damn his children forever, I would rather go to hell than to go to heaven and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-there-is-a-god-who-will-damn-his-children-forever-i-would-rather/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [For the first time I understood the dogma of eternal pain... For the first time my imagination grasped the height and depth of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/for-the-first-time-i-understood-the-dogma-of-eternal-pain-for-the/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [I desire to go to Hell and not to Heaven. In the former I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings and princes, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-desire-to-go-to-hell-and-not-to-heaven-in-the-former-i-shall-enjoy/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [Man is nothing: he hath a free will to go to hell, but none to go to heaven, till God worketh in him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/man-is-nothing-he-hath-a-free-will-to-go-to-hell-but-none-to-go-to/)

[George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/)

> [I feel eternal pain for those who were killed by Hitler, but I feel no less pain for those killed on Stalin's orders. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-shostakovich/i-feel-eternal-pain-for-those-who-were-killed-by-hitler-but-i-feel-no/)

[Dmitri Shostakovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-shostakovich/)

> [“For the first time I understood the dogma of eternal pain -- appreciated "the glad tidings of great joy." For the first time my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/for-the-first-time-i-understood-the-dogma-of-eternal-pain-appreciated/)

[Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/)

> [“Is it necessary that Heaven should borrow its light from the glare of Hell? Infinite punishment is infinite cruelty, endless injustice, immortal meanness .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/is-it-necessary-that-heaven-should-borrow-its-light-from-the-glare-of-2/)

[Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/)

> [Through me you go into a city of weeping; through me you go into eternal pain; through me you go amongst the lost people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/through-me-you-go-into-a-city-of-weeping-through-me-you-go-into-2/)

[Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/)

> [“One great objection to the Old Testament is the cruelty said to have been commanded by God. All these cruelties ceased with death. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/one-great-objection-to-the-old-testament-is-the-cruelty-said-to-have/)

[Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/)

> [“Through me the way into the suffering city, Through me the way into eternal pain, Through me the way that runs among the lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/through-me-the-way-into-the-suffering-city-through-me-the-way-into/)

[Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/)

> [Embrace this moment. Remember, we are eternal. All pain is an illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tool/embrace-this-moment-remember-we-are-eternal-all-pain-is-an-illusion/)

[Tool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tool/)

> [“Through me you go into a city of weeping; through me you go into eternal pain; through me you go amongst the lost people.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-s-wrights/through-me-you-go-into-a-city-of-weeping-through-me-you-go-into/)

[D.S. Wrights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-s-wrights/)

> [“Suppose after all that death does end all. Next to eternal joy, next to being forever with those we love and those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/suppose-after-all-that-death-does-end-all-next-to-eternal-joy-next-to/)

[Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/)

> [Through me you pass into the city of woe: Through me you pass into eternal pain: Through me among the people lost for aye.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/through-me-you-pass-into-the-city-of-woe-through-me-you-pass-into/)

[Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/)

> [We are eternal. All this pain is an illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/we-are-eternal-all-this-pain-is-an-illusion/)

[Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/)

## More by Robert Green Ingersoll

> [Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/our-hope-of-immortality-does-not-come-from-any-religions-but-nearly/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-read-the-other-day-an-account-of-a-meeting-between-john-knox-and/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Shakespeare has done far more for the world than the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/shakespeare-has-done-far-more-for-the-world-than-the-bible/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Every man who expresses an honest thought is a soldier in the army of intellectual liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/every-man-who-expresses-an-honest-thought-is-a-soldier-in-the-army-of/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Liberty is the condition of progress. Without Liberty, there remains only barbarism. Without Liberty, there can be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/liberty-is-the-condition-of-progress-without-liberty-there-remains/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [It has been said that a man of genius should select his ancestors with great care - and yet there does not seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-has-been-said-that-a-man-of-genius-should-select-his-ancestors/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [In spite of my surroundings, of my education, I had no love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/in-spite-of-my-surroundings-of-my-education-i-had-no-love-for-god/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-combined-wisdom-and-genius-of-all-mankind-cannot-possibly/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, except the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/calvin-founded-a-little-theocracy-modeled-after-the-old-testament-and/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends. Neither do I believe in revenge. No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-believe-in-loving-enemies-i-have-pretty-hard-work-to-love-my/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [The literature of many lands is rich with the tributes that gratitude, admiration and love have paid to the great and honored dead. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-literature-of-many-lands-is-rich-with-the-tributes-that-gratitude/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

[Explore all 640 Robert Green Ingersoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

## More Company quotes

> [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/)

[Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/)

> [Subsequent to the original Quicken, the whole idea that we, as a consumer products company, could actually make business products, that was a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/subsequent-to-the-original-quicken-the-whole-idea-that-we-as-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/)

[Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/)

> [I've discovered special makeup by a company called M.A.C. You could wear it on the surface of the sun and it wouldn't move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-smith/i-ve-discovered-special-makeup-by-a-company-called-m-a-c-you-could/)

[Robert Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-smith/)

> [I'm also the chairman of the board of Symantec, which is the world's largest cybersecurity - software cybersecurity company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/i-m-also-the-chairman-of-the-board-of-symantec-which-is-the-world-s/)

[Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/)

> [If you choose to work at a larger company over a smaller company, you are more likely to be higher paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/if-you-choose-to-work-at-a-larger-company-over-a-smaller-company-you/)

[Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/)

> [The undisciplined child enters into discipline by working in the company of others; not being told he is naughty.” “Discipline is, therefore, primarily a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-undisciplined-child-enters-into-discipline-by-working-in-the/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/)

[Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/)

> [I won contest after contest until finally I realized, "Ok, I am the best in the world, but now what?" So I opened my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-hosoi/i-won-contest-after-contest-until-finally-i-realized-ok-i-am-the-best/)

[Christian Hosoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-hosoi/)

> [To become a classical ballerina, you have to move to New York when you're 12 or 11 and that becomes your life. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/to-become-a-classical-ballerina-you-have-to-move-to-new-york-when-you/)

[Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/)

> [Companies are not charitable enterprises: They hire workers to make profits. In the United States, this logic still works. In Europe, it hardly does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/companies-are-not-charitable-enterprises-they-hire-workers-to-make/)

[Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/)

> [I don't think that a company should own a studio and the network, and program for their own network. It hurts the creativity -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/i-don-t-think-that-a-company-should-own-a-studio-and-the-network-and/)

[Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/)

> [Antidepressants are the biggest fraud in the world. Number one, Prozac gives you a royal soft-on like you wouldn't believe, and number two you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-evans/antidepressants-are-the-biggest-fraud-in-the-world-number-one-prozac/)

[Robert Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-evans/)

> [Live always in the best company when you read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/live-always-in-the-best-company-when-you-read/)

[Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/)

[Browse all 8,710 Company quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "God cannot send to eternal pain a man who has done something toward improving the condition of his fellow-man. If he can, I had rather go to hell than to heaven and keep company with such a god.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Green Ingersoll"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/god-cannot-send-to-eternal-pain-a-man-who-has-done-something-toward/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Company"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/god-cannot-send-to-eternal-pain-a-man-who-has-done-something-toward/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_company_god-cannot-send-to-eternal-pain-a-man-wh_399248.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_company_god-cannot-send-to-eternal-pain-a-man-wh_399248.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_company_god-cannot-send-to-eternal-pain-a-man-wh_399248.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“God cannot send to eternal pain a man who has done something toward improving the condition of his…” — Robert Green Ingersoll",
                "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": "Robert Green Ingersoll",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "God cannot send to eternal pain...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/god-cannot-send-to-eternal-pain-a-man-who-has-done-something-toward/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/god-cannot-send-to-eternal-pain-a-man-who-has-done-something-toward/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
