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Brotherly Quote by John Winthrop

“We must knit together, in this work, as one man. We must entertain each other in brotherly affection. We must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of others’ necessities . . . We shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all the people are upon us so that if we…” quote by John Winthrop
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““We must knit together, in this work, as one man. We must entertain each other in brotherly affection. We must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of others’ necessities . . . We shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all the people are upon us so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause him to withdraw his present help form us, we shall be made a story and a byword throughout all the world.””

John Winthrop

About This Quote

Source Document: The City upon a Hill, 1630

Communities must cooperate, sacrifice excess, and uphold moral standards to serve the common good.

In simple terms: Cooperation and humility build a strong society.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize collective welfare over self‑interest.

Themes

community morality cooperation

Mood

inspirational serious

Type

ethical leadership

When to use this quote

  • government policy
  • faith communities
  • team projects

Key Concepts

social contract public duty ethical leadership

Questions to Reflect On

  • What sacrifices are reasonable for the common good?
  • How to balance humility with self‑care?
A Different Perspective

Idealistic view may overlook individual dissent and practical limits.

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