--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is no God there is no hereafter…" description: "\"If there is no God there is no hereafter. When, therefore, one drives God out of the universe he closes the door of hope upon himself.\" — William Jenni..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/william-jennings-bryan-4474_doors_if-there-is-no-god-there-is-no-hereafter_2150853.png" --- # If there is no God there is no hereafter. When, therefore… ![“If there is no God there is no hereafter. When, therefore, one drives God out of the universe he closes the door of hope upon himself.” quote by William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/william-jennings-bryan-4474_doors_if-there-is-no-god-there-is-no-hereafter_2150853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/william-jennings-bryan-4474_doors_if-there-is-no-god-there-is-no-hereafter_2150853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/william-jennings-bryan-4474_doors_if-there-is-no-god-there-is-no-hereafter_2150853.png) > “If there is no God there is no hereafter. When, therefore, one drives God out of the universe he closes the door of hope upon himself.” [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Denying God eliminates hope of an afterlife; removing divine purpose erodes optimism. **In simple terms:** No God, no hope beyond life. Key Takeaway Recognize how belief influences hope. Themes faith existentialism hope Mood reflective serious inquisitive Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - debates on afterlife - personal belief systems - ethical decisions Key Concepts philosophy theology Questions to Reflect On - What gives you hope without belief in a deity? - Can meaning exist independently of religion? A Different Perspective Atheistic perspectives may offer alternative hope sources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hereafter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hereafter/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hopes up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopes-up/) [There is no god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/there-is-no-god/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [“You’re a taker. And you’ve been taking for a long time. And I think that you can only take so much from the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-lawrence/you-re-a-taker-and-you-ve-been-taking-for-a-long-time-and-i-think/) [J.T. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-lawrence/) > [If God drives a car, He'd drive a 1973 Ford LTD Brougham sedan with a claret-colored vinyl roof, with oxblood leather upholstery and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/if-god-drives-a-car-he-d-drive-a-1973-ford-ltd-brougham-sedan-with-a/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [When he sees little kids sitting in the backseat of cars, in those little car seats that have steering wheels, with grim expressions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/when-he-sees-little-kids-sitting-in-the-backseat-of-cars-in-those/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“He said that when he sees little kids sitting in the backseat of cars, in those car seats that have steering wheels, with grim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/he-said-that-when-he-sees-little-kids-sitting-in-the-backseat-of-cars/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I had this lump in my throat, but I couldn't even cry. I thought, I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. I was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-had-this-lump-in-my-throat-but-i-couldn-t-even-cry-i-thought-i/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [I hate you! (Artemis) Don’t keep saying that, Artie. It’s cruel to get my hopes up. (Acheron)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-hate-you-artemis-don-t-keep-saying-that-artie-it-s-cruel-to-get-my/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [He might have crawled up into the airing cupboard and died, but I mustn't get my hopes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-might-have-crawled-up-into-the-airing-cupboard-and-died-but-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hope itself is a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords; but, like all other pleasures immoderately enjoyed, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/hope-itself-is-a-species-of-happiness-and-perhaps-the-chief-happiness/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Keep your hopes up. Or down. Wherever you want them to be. Just have hope somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-turner/keep-your-hopes-up-or-down-wherever-you-want-them-to-be-just-have/) [Toby Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-turner/) > [Science is an investigation," Coach said, sanding his hands together. "Science requires us to transform into spies." Put that way, science almost sounded fun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/science-is-an-investigation-coach-said-sanding-his-hands-together/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/hope-is-the-thing-with-feathers-that-perches-in-the-soul/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Modeling's actually been treating me a lot better at age 24 than when I was 21. Young girls get their hopes up and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-richards/modeling-s-actually-been-treating-me-a-lot-better-at-age-24-than-when/) [Alexandra Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-richards/) > [This is why you should never, ever get your hopes up. This is why you should see the glass as half empty. So when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/this-is-why-you-should-never-ever-get-your-hopes-up-this-is-why-you/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I glanced up at Zay, then walked over to stand next to him. "You look good with a baby in your arms," he murmured.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-monk/i-glanced-up-at-zay-then-walked-over-to-stand-next-to-him-you-look/) [Devon Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-monk/) > [You think I led him on? For what? Kicks? I don't have enough exictement in my life, so maybe I'll tease a nice guy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/you-think-i-led-him-on-for-what-kicks-i-don-t-have-enough-exictement/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## More by William Jennings Bryan > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/on-thanksgiving-day-we-acknowledge-our-dependence/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Agnosticism is the natural attitude of the evolutionist. How can a brute mind comprehend spiritual things?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/agnosticism-is-the-natural-attitude-of-the-evolutionist-how-can-a/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [“The only part of evolution in which any considerable interest is felt is evolution applied to man. A hypothesis in regard to the rocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/the-only-part-of-evolution-in-which-any-considerable-interest-is-felt/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Greed is at the bottom of most of the wrong-doing with which government has to deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/greed-is-at-the-bottom-of-most-of-the-wrong-doing-with-which/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [If you want criticisms, read the dissenting opinions of the Court. That will give you criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/if-you-want-criticisms-read-the-dissenting-opinions-of-the-court-that/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Behold a republic standing erect while empires all around are bowed beneath the weight of their own armaments - a republic whose flag is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/behold-a-republic-standing-erect-while-empires-all-around-are-bowed/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Whenever one refuses to admit such a self-evident truth, for instance, as that it is wrong to steal, don't argue with him-search him; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/whenever-one-refuses-to-admit-such-a-self-evident-truth-for-instance/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [New York is the city of privilege. Here is the seat of the Invisible Power represented by the allied forces of finance and industry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/new-york-is-the-city-of-privilege-here-is-the-seat-of-the-invisible/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [If we have to give up either religion or education, we should give up education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/if-we-have-to-give-up-either-religion-or-education-we-should-give-up/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [The great political questions are in their final analysis great moral questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/the-great-political-questions-are-in-their-final-analysis-great-moral/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [If it be true, as I believe it is, that morality is dependent upon religion, then religion is not only the most practical thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/if-it-be-true-as-i-believe-it-is-that-morality-is-dependent-upon/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [“We will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: "You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/we-will-answer-their-demand-for-a-gold-standard-by-saying-to-them-you/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Most of the temptations that come to us to sell the soul come in connection with the getting of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/most-of-the-temptations-that-come-to-us-to-sell-the-soul-come-in/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Atheists have just as much civil right to teach atheism as Christians have to teach Christianity; agnostics have just as much right to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/atheists-have-just-as-much-civil-right-to-teach-atheism-as-christians/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) [Explore all 110 William Jennings Bryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) ## More Doors quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [When you have counted eighty years and more, Time and Fate will batter at your door; But if you should survive to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/when-you-have-counted-eighty-years-and-more-time-and-fate-will-batter/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [We can't love a place or a person if we always have one foot out the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/we-can-t-love-a-place-or-a-person-if-we-always-have-one-foot-out-the/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [Kindness unlocks doors that were thought to be closed forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/kindness-unlocks-doors-that-were-thought-to-be-closed-forever/) Unkown > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [The odor of bowel wind is known to every human, but the fragrance of book glue has crossed only a fraction of mortal nostrils.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-odor-of-bowel-wind-is-known-to-every-human-but-the-fragrance-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had always assumed that the right way to do it was to these engineers, put them in offices by themselves with doors that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/i-had-always-assumed-that-the-right-way-to-do-it-was-to-these/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I think that's the beauty of the current setup, is that Legends is meant to be a bit of a revolving door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-the-current-setup-is-that-legends-is/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [In the beginning I was just a makeup artist and I never really pictured myself doing anything else. But now that I have so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffree-star/in-the-beginning-i-was-just-a-makeup-artist-and-i-never-really/) [Jeffree Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffree-star/) > [I do not chase after anyone if you wanna walk out my life then I will hold the fu\*\*\*\*g door open for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-do-not-chase-after-anyone-if-you-wanna-walk-out-my-life-then-i-will/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [Do you know what it is sir? Do you know what the Dance Dance Revolution is? It's not an actual revolution, so you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/do-you-know-what-it-is-sir-do-you-know-what-the-dance-dance/) [Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/) Browse all 5,899 Doors quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is no God there is no hereafter. When, therefore, one drives God out of the universe he closes the door of hope upon himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Jennings Bryan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/if-there-is-no-god-there-is-no-hereafter-when-therefore-one-drives/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/if-there-is-no-god-there-is-no-hereafter-when-therefore-one-drives/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/william-jennings-bryan-4474_doors_if-there-is-no-god-there-is-no-hereafter_2150853.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/william-jennings-bryan-4474_doors_if-there-is-no-god-there-is-no-hereafter_2150853.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/william-jennings-bryan-4474_doors_if-there-is-no-god-there-is-no-hereafter_2150853.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is no God there is no hereafter. When, therefore, one drives God out of the universe he closes the…” — William Jennings Bryan", "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": "William Jennings Bryan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If there is no God there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/if-there-is-no-god-there-is-no-hereafter-when-therefore-one-drives/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/if-there-is-no-god-there-is-no-hereafter-when-therefore-one-drives/#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 } } ] } ```