--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To cling to his paradise and become a…" description: "\"“To cling to his paradise and become a devil or become a saint by going back to hell?”\" — Victor Hugo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/victor-hugo-32_hell_to-cling-to-his-paradise-and-become-a-de_2752978.jpg" --- # To cling to his paradise and become a devil or become a… ![“To cling to his paradise and become a devil or become a saint by going back to hell?” quote by Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/victor-hugo-32_hell_to-cling-to-his-paradise-and-become-a-de_2752978.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/victor-hugo-32_hell_to-cling-to-his-paradise-and-become-a-de_2752978.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/victor-hugo-32_hell_to-cling-to-his-paradise-and-become-a-de_2752978.jpg) > ““To cling to his paradise and become a devil or become a saint by going back to hell?”” [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clinging to an ideal can corrupt one, while confronting hardship may lead to redemption or damnation. **In simple terms:** Holding onto paradise can corrupt; confronting hell may redeem. Key Takeaway Choose confronting reality over false paradise. Themes moral choice redemption corruption spiritual struggle paradise Mood dramatic philosophical serious Type literary spiritual When to use this quote - moral decision-making - spiritual practice - self-reflection Key Concepts ethical dilemma existential crisis spiritual journey Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer comfort or truth? - What costs does redemption demand? A Different Perspective Choosing the wrong path can deepen suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Paradise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradise/) ## Related quotes > [Animals run no risk of going to hell. They are already there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/animals-run-no-risk-of-going-to-hell-they-are-already-there/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The fact is that, in prison, you can't just go and be locked up and serve your time. That's not an option. You get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/the-fact-is-that-in-prison-you-can-t-just-go-and-be-locked-up-and/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [I may be going to hell in a bucket, baby, but at least I'm enjoying the ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grateful-dead/i-may-be-going-to-hell-in-a-bucket-baby-but-at-least-i-m-enjoying-the/) [Grateful Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grateful-dead/) > [“The world is going to hell. All we can do is look good on the trip. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-world-is-going-to-hell-all-we-can-do-is-look-good-on-the-trip/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [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/) > [“It is bad enough to be unconverted and going to hell. It is even worse to say, “I know it and will not cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle-2/it-is-bad-enough-to-be-unconverted-and-going-to-hell-it-is-even-worse/) [J.C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle-2/) > [“Because if Rob was going to hell, Gamelyn wasn't going to let him go alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-tullos-hennig/because-if-rob-was-going-to-hell-gamelyn-wasn-t-going-to-let-him-go/) [J. Tullos Hennig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-tullos-hennig/) > [If you're going through hell keep on going don't slow down if you're scared don't show it you might get out before the devil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-going-through-hell-keep-on-going-don-t-slow-down-if-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An intelligent hell would be better than a stupid paradise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/an-intelligent-hell-would-be-better-than-a-stupid-paradise/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Sacrificing the earth for paradise is giving up the substance for the shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/sacrificing-the-earth-for-paradise-is-giving-up-the-substance-for-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Should he remain in paradise and become a demon? Should he return to hell and become an angel?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/should-he-remain-in-paradise-and-become-a-demon-should-he-return-to/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Love is a portion of the soul itself, and it is of the same nature as the celestial breathing of the atmosphere of paradise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/love-is-a-portion-of-the-soul-itself-and-it-is-of-the-same-nature-as/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Shall we keep men in a fool's paradise? Shall we lull them into soft slumbers from which they will awake in hell? Are we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/shall-we-keep-men-in-a-fool-s-paradise-shall-we-lull-them-into-soft/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Better to reign in hell than serve in heav'n.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/better-to-reign-in-hell-than-serve-in-heav-n/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“ALAS, IF ALL HUMANS WERE WISE AND HAD MORE GOOD WILL THE WORLD WOULD BE A PARADISE NOW IT IS MOSTLY A HELL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/alas-if-all-humans-were-wise-and-had-more-good-will-the-world-would/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) ## More by Victor Hugo > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“There is still a certain grace in a dead festival. It has been happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-is-still-a-certain-grace-in-a-dead-festival-it-has-been-happy/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“First I loved women, then animals, and now I love stones. They're just as amusing as women and animals and they're much less trecherous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/first-i-loved-women-then-animals-and-now-i-love-stones-they-re-just/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Nature is pitiless; she never withdraws her flowers, her music, her fragrance, and her sunlight from before human cruelty or suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/nature-is-pitiless-she-never-withdraws-her-flowers-her-music-her/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have finished your daily task, go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/have-courage-for-the-great-sorrows-of-life-and-patience-for-the-small/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The peasants of the Asturias believe that in every litter of wolves there is one pup that is killed by the mother for fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-peasants-of-the-asturias-believe-that-in-every-litter-of-wolves/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Great blunders are often made, like large ropes, of a multitude of fibres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/great-blunders-are-often-made-like-large-ropes-of-a-multitude-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“For love is like a tree; it grows of itself; it send its roots deep into our being, and often continues to grow green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/for-love-is-like-a-tree-it-grows-of-itself-it-send-its-roots-deep/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Blacheville smiles with the self-satisfied smugness of a man whose vanity is tickled”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/blacheville-smiles-with-the-self-satisfied-smugness-of-a-man-whose/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Loving in ignorance, she loved with all the more passion. She did not know whether it was good or evil, beneficent or dangerous, necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/loving-in-ignorance-she-loved-with-all-the-more-passion-she-did-not/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/laughter-is-the-sun-that-drives-winter-from-the-human-face/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Our joys have shadows. The perfect smile belongs to God alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/our-joys-have-shadows-the-perfect-smile-belongs-to-god-alone/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“When those we love are in question, our prudence invents every sort of madness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/when-those-we-love-are-in-question-our-prudence-invents-every-sort-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Love is a fault; so be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/love-is-a-fault-so-be-it/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) [Explore all 2,181 Victor Hugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## More Hell quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“Hell is only loneliness, a place without play for the soul, a place without God. How could there be God in loneliness when God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/hell-is-only-loneliness-a-place-without-play-for-the-soul-a-place/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [Just when I thought that I was gtting better, boy was I wrong.. Things just turned to hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cupecake/just-when-i-thought-that-i-was-gtting-better-boy-was-i-wrong-things/) Cupecake > [I believe that on any trip to heaven, there are always detours through hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-finney/i-believe-that-on-any-trip-to-heaven-there-are-always-detours-through/) [Richard Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-finney/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I'm what is known as gradually disintegrating. I don't fear the next world, or anything. I don't fear hell, and I don't look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-what-is-known-as-gradually-disintegrating-i-don-t-fear-the-next/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Hey...Hey...What's up?. Nothing much, you? Nothing. K!..What the hell was the point of this communication?...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hey-hey-what-s-up-nothing-much-you-nothing-k-what-the-hell-was-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“ALAS, IF ALL HUMANS WERE WISE AND HAD MORE GOOD WILL THE WORLD WOULD BE A PARADISE NOW IT IS MOSTLY A HELL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/alas-if-all-humans-were-wise-and-had-more-good-will-the-world-would/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [It is through suppression that hells are formed in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/it-is-through-suppression-that-hells-are-formed-in-us/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) [Browse all 8,212 Hell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To cling to his paradise and become a devil or become a saint by going back to hell?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Victor Hugo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/to-cling-to-his-paradise-and-become-a-devil-or-become-a-saint-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hell" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/to-cling-to-his-paradise-and-become-a-devil-or-become-a-saint-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/victor-hugo-32_hell_to-cling-to-his-paradise-and-become-a-de_2752978.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/victor-hugo-32_hell_to-cling-to-his-paradise-and-become-a-de_2752978.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f4/victor-hugo-32_hell_to-cling-to-his-paradise-and-become-a-de_2752978.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To cling to his paradise and become a devil or become a saint by going back to hell?” — Victor Hugo", "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": "Victor Hugo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To cling to his paradise and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/to-cling-to-his-paradise-and-become-a-devil-or-become-a-saint-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/to-cling-to-his-paradise-and-become-a-devil-or-become-a-saint-by/#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 } } ] } ```