Who said “The main object of religion is not to get a man into heaven, but to get heaven into him.”?

Misattributed

Not Thomas Hardy. It's commonly credited to them, but the evidence shows it isn't theirs.

What the research foundListed as misattributed to Thomas Hardy; no source in their known works.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“The main object of religion is not to get a man into heaven, but to get heaven into him.”
MisattributedListed as misattributed to Thomas Hardy; no source in their known works. · evidenceHeaven
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Cite this quote

APA

“The main object of religion is not to get a man into heaven, but to get heaven into him.” [Quotation attributed to Thomas Hardy]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9651-the-main-object-of-religion-is-not-to/

MLA

“The main object of religion is not to get a man into heaven, but to get heaven into him.” Attributed to Thomas Hardy. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9651-the-main-object-of-religion-is-not-to/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“The main object of religion is not to get a man into heaven, but to get heaven into him.” Attributed to Thomas Hardy. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9651-the-main-object-of-religion-is-not-to/.