--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I grew up taking it for granted that…" description: "\"I grew up taking it for granted that missionaries were what American boys grew up to be.\" — Huston Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/huston-smith-2415_granted_i-grew-up-taking-it-for-granted-that-mis_2120011.png" --- # I grew up taking it for granted that missionaries were… ![“I grew up taking it for granted that missionaries were what American boys grew up to be.” quote by Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/huston-smith-2415_granted_i-grew-up-taking-it-for-granted-that-mis_2120011.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/huston-smith-2415_granted_i-grew-up-taking-it-for-granted-that-mis_2120011.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/huston-smith-2415_granted_i-grew-up-taking-it-for-granted-that-mis_2120011.png) > “I grew up taking it for granted that missionaries were what American boys grew up to be.” [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Assumes missionaries are idealized, reflecting cultural stereotypes about American youth. **In simple terms:** People think missionaries are perfect role models. Key Takeaway Question cultural assumptions. Themes stereotypes religion identity Mood critical inquisitive Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - education - missionary work - media representation Key Concepts cultural critique anthropology Questions to Reflect On - How do stereotypes shape your view of others? - What alternative narratives exist? A Different Perspective Simplifies diverse experiences of missionaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-boys-1645026/) [Boys Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys-grew-4008896/) [Granted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/granted/) [Granted Missionaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/granted-missionaries-4319697/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Missionaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missionaries/) [Missionaries American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missionaries-american-4319696/) ## Related quotes > [In my town, I had only one adult American male role model: my father. I grew up taking it for granted that missionaries were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/in-my-town-i-had-only-one-adult-american-male-role-model-my-father-i/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Why did the little girls grow crippled While the little boys grow strong The boys allowed to come of age The girls just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapin/why-did-the-little-girls-grow-crippled-while-the-little-boys-grow/) [Harry Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapin/) > [I lump Canada and the States together. I like good old North American boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-helfer/i-lump-canada-and-the-states-together-i-like-good-old-north-american/) [Tricia Helfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-helfer/) > [I went to New York and Miami and hung out by the beach, and I love the American boys, so I wrote a song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-went-to-new-york-and-miami-and-hung-out-by-the-beach-and-i-love-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They call upon us to supply American boys to do the job that Asian boys should do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/they-call-upon-us-to-supply-american-boys-to-do-the-job-that-asian/) [Lyndon B. 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Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I don't want fans to think we're clean, upstanding American boys, but we are Americans, and we do stand up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/i-don-t-want-fans-to-think-we-re-clean-upstanding-american-boys-but/) [Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/) > [American boys should not be seen dying on the nightly news. Wars should be over in three days or less, or before Congress invokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-thomas/american-boys-should-not-be-seen-dying-on-the-nightly-news-wars/) [Evan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-thomas/) > [Modernity sees humanity as having ascended from what is inferior to it - life begins in slime and ends in intelligence - whereas traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/modernity-sees-humanity-as-having-ascended-from-what-is-inferior-to/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“When the Missionaries arrived, the Africans had the land and the Missionaries had the Bible. They taught how to pray with our eyes closed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jomo-kenyatta/when-the-missionaries-arrived-the-africans-had-the-land-and-the/) [Jomo Kenyatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jomo-kenyatta/) > [People have the idea of missionaries as going out with the Bible and hitting natives with it. It's not really what they were doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/people-have-the-idea-of-missionaries-as-going-out-with-the-bible-and/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [“And so Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/and-so-mr-brown-came-to-be-respected-even-by-the-clan-because-he-trod/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Please dont say you dont miss him. Just to pity me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-yap/please-dont-say-you-dont-miss-him-just-to-pity-me/) [William Yap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-yap/) ## More by Huston Smith > [“The Transcendent was my morning meal, we had the Eternal at lunch, and I ate a slice of the Infinite at dinner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-transcendent-was-my-morning-meal-we-had-the-eternal-at-lunch-and/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [The first koan do not have rational answers. They are techniques devised over the millennia for triggering an actual experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-first-koan-do-not-have-rational-answers-they-are-techniques/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [We all carry it within us: supreme strength, the fullness of wisdom, unquenchable joy. It is never thwarted, and cannot be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/we-all-carry-it-within-us-supreme-strength-the-fullness-of-wisdom/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [A nation can assume that the addition of the words "under God" to its pledge of allegiance gives evidence that its citizens actually believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/a-nation-can-assume-that-the-addition-of-the-words-under-god-to-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“Some friends accused me of whoring after the Infinite. Well, what better whoredom is there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/some-friends-accused-me-of-whoring-after-the-infinite-well-what/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Imagine a man besottedly in love: he won't waste time speculating whether other women equally merit his affection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/imagine-a-man-besottedly-in-love-he-won-t-waste-time-speculating/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“If my opinion that substance requires a true unity were founded only on a definition I had formulated in opposition to common usage, \*then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/if-my-opinion-that-substance-requires-a-true-unity-were-founded-only/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [The New Age movement looks like a mixed bag. I see much in it that seems good: It's optimistic; it's enthusiastic; it has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed-bag-i-see-much-in-it-that/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Science can prove nothing about God, because God lies outside its province.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/science-can-prove-nothing-about-god-because-god-lies-outside-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [I had assumed that Bush's seemingly inflexible policy to support Sharon was for political reasons of his getting elected. But as to whether he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/i-had-assumed-that-bush-s-seemingly-inflexible-policy-to-support/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [The Buddha is in me, the Buddha is in you. Live up to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-buddha-is-in-me-the-buddha-is-in-you-live-up-to-it/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“How many planes there are, we do not know. The levels of nature that science discriminates give us no clue, for these all pertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/how-many-planes-there-are-we-do-not-know-the-levels-of-nature-that/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [So always, if we look back, concern for face-to-face morality, and its modern emphasis on justice as well, have historically evolved as religious issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/so-always-if-we-look-back-concern-for-face-to-face-morality-and-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [All -isms end up in schisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/all-isms-end-up-in-schisms/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Most of the book deals with things we already know yet never learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/most-of-the-book-deals-with-things-we-already-know-yet-never-learn/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) [Explore all 167 Huston Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) ## More Granted quotes > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I love trade magazines - any trade's magazine: by entering into what is taken for granted in a world not your own, you better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/i-love-trade-magazines-any-trade-s-magazine-by-entering-into-what-is/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [It's strange that those we miss the most Are those we take for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-betjeman/it-s-strange-that-those-we-miss-the-most-are-those-we-take-for-granted/) [John Betjeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-betjeman/) > [This time, there were no drugs involved. The hours were completely normal daytime hours. I think we were able to appreciate the interplay, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/this-time-there-were-no-drugs-involved-the-hours-were-completely/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Everyday is a gift never take it for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyday-is-a-gift-never-take-it-for-granted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This position is untenable, and there can be no pause in the agitation for full political power and responsibility until these are granted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-kelley/this-position-is-untenable-and-there-can-be-no-pause-in-the-agitation/) [Florence Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-kelley/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-favor-is-half-granted-when-graciously-refused/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Nor would anybody suspect. If was one thing all people took for granted, was conviction that if you feed honest figures into a computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/nor-would-anybody-suspect-if-was-one-thing-all-people-took-for/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Great God of the Ants, thou hast granted victory to thy servants. I appoint thee honorary Colonel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karel-capek/great-god-of-the-ants-thou-hast-granted-victory-to-thy-servants-i/) [Karel Capek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karel-capek/) > [If I could be granted a wish, I'd shine in your eye like a jewel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-i-could-be-granted-a-wish-i-d-shine-in-your-eye-like-a-jewel/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [End-of-the-world stories tend to ring true. I've always been drawn to them, but as I wrote my own, I found surprising pleasure in creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/end-of-the-world-stories-tend-to-ring-true-i-ve-always-been-drawn-to/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Never Take Happiness For Granted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-stiegelbauer/never-take-happiness-for-granted/) [Mr Stiegelbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-stiegelbauer/) > [Nothing evades our attention as persistently as that which we take for granted... the decades roll on without even a suggestion that perhaps the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-brady/nothing-evades-our-attention-as-persistently-as-that-which-we-take/) [Marion Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-brady/) [Browse all 1,933 Granted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/granted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I grew up taking it for granted that missionaries were what American boys grew up to be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Huston Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/i-grew-up-taking-it-for-granted-that-missionaries-were-what-american/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Granted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/i-grew-up-taking-it-for-granted-that-missionaries-were-what-american/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/huston-smith-2415_granted_i-grew-up-taking-it-for-granted-that-mis_2120011.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/huston-smith-2415_granted_i-grew-up-taking-it-for-granted-that-mis_2120011.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/huston-smith-2415_granted_i-grew-up-taking-it-for-granted-that-mis_2120011.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I grew up taking it for granted that missionaries were what American boys grew up to be.” — Huston Smith", "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": "Huston Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I grew up taking it for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/i-grew-up-taking-it-for-granted-that-missionaries-were-what-american/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/i-grew-up-taking-it-for-granted-that-missionaries-were-what-american/#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 } } ] } ```