--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The custom of confession seemed designed…" description: "\"“The custom of confession seemed designed to encourage sin by granting ready forgiveness. Neither Abigail nor any member of her family ever wavered in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/lynne-withey-23081_forgiveness_the-custom-of-confession-seemed-designed_769804.jpg" --- # The custom of confession seemed designed to encourage sin… ![“The custom of confession seemed designed to encourage sin by granting ready forgiveness. Neither Abigail nor any member of her family ever wavered in their preference for life in America over life in Europe. In France they lived far grander style than they ever lived in Braintree. ...her…” quote by Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/lynne-withey-23081_forgiveness_the-custom-of-confession-seemed-designed_769804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/lynne-withey-23081_forgiveness_the-custom-of-confession-seemed-designed_769804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/lynne-withey-23081_forgiveness_the-custom-of-confession-seemed-designed_769804.jpg) > ““The custom of confession seemed designed to encourage sin by granting ready forgiveness. Neither Abigail nor any member of her family ever wavered in their preference for life in America over life in Europe. In France they lived far grander style than they ever lived in Braintree. ...her unshakable belief was that America was superior to Europe - superiority based on simplicity, its supposed lack of extreme wealth and class distinctions, its religion and its emphasis on family”” [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America’s appeal was framed as simple, egalitarian, and family‑oriented, contrasting with perceived European excess. **In simple terms:** America seen as simple, family‑focused, unlike Europe. Key Takeaway Recognize how cultural narratives shape values. Themes culture identity nationalism Mood reflective critical Type historical analytical When to use this quote - immigration decisions - education curricula - political debates Key Concepts sociology history Questions to Reflect On - Why do people idealize certain cultures? - How does simplicity affect societal progress? A Different Perspective Simplifying complex societies can overlook nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) ## Related quotes > [So 2000 to 2008 probably is the last time we had leadership in Washington with any power which had the belief that America is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/so-2000-to-2008-probably-is-the-last-time-we-had-leadership-in/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“As long as Christianity is the dominant belief system in America, we cannot afford to be biblically or theologically illiterate, regardless of our personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-r-meyers/as-long-as-christianity-is-the-dominant-belief-system-in-america-we/) [Robin R. Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-r-meyers/) > [If there is a national, secular religion in the United States, it is the belief that America is the Land of Opportunity, that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-fake/if-there-is-a-national-secular-religion-in-the-united-states-it-is/) [Caterina Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-fake/) > [When a terrorist or a government official demands that you deny Jesus, they're demanding you exchange your belief in him for something else. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-moore-jr/when-a-terrorist-or-a-government-official-demands-that-you-deny-jesus/) [Johnnie Moore, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-moore-jr/) > [At the root of everything that we’re trying to accomplish is the belief that America has a mission. We are a nation of freedom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/at-the-root-of-everything-that-we-re-trying-to-accomplish-is-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [George W. Bush was great on the belief that America was the solution to the world's problems, not the problem, and was a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/george-w-bush-was-great-on-the-belief-that-america-was-the-solution/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [My parents immigrated to the United States with $10 in their pocket and a belief that the America they had heard about really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-love/my-parents-immigrated-to-the-united-states-with-10-in-their-pocket/) [Mia Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-love/) > [My belief in why America has been doing so well up to now is that we have been propelled by our immigrants and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/my-belief-in-why-america-has-been-doing-so-well-up-to-now-is-that-we/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [Keep the faith. Whatever that may be. Don't get too depressed yet, because I have a belief in America being very diverse and ornery,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/keep-the-faith-whatever-that-may-be-don-t-get-too-depressed-yet/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“But the American hatred of criminals is especially unforgiving, reflecting our “sink or swim” mentality—the belief that America is the land of unlimited lawful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-the-american-hatred-of-criminals-is-especially-unforgiving/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you see a condemned man on his way to the gallows, it moves you to pity. If you could do something to free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mary-claret/when-you-see-a-condemned-man-on-his-way-to-the-gallows-it-moves-you/) [Anthony Mary Claret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mary-claret/) > [“We need repentance. You see, repentance is not only going to a priest and confessing. We must free ourselves from the obsession of thoughts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/we-need-repentance-you-see-repentance-is-not-only-going-to-a-priest/) [Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/) > [“I’m beginning to get the feeling that confession is what we need in order to forgive ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-kuhn/i-m-beginning-to-get-the-feeling-that-confession-is-what-we-need-in/) [Shane Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-kuhn/) > [A man does not have to feel less than human to realize his sin; oppositely, he has to realize that he gets no special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/a-man-does-not-have-to-feel-less-than-human-to-realize-his-sin/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) ## More by Lynne Withey > [“she learned slowly and painfully that it was easier to overthrow a government than to create a one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/she-learned-slowly-and-painfully-that-it-was-easier-to-overthrow-a/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“I always thought a laughing philosopher a much wiser man than the sniveling one (cmizdrenje)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/i-always-thought-a-laughing-philosopher-a-much-wiser-man-than-the/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“She blamed moral vices that weakened the whole society and worried that Americans were heading in the same direction… Thought that so much land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/she-blamed-moral-vices-that-weakened-the-whole-society-and-worried/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“If he has none to give him pain, he has none to give him pleasure. She never expressed doubts about the way she raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/if-he-has-none-to-give-him-pain-he-has-none-to-give-him-pleasure-she/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“Women were responsible for raising next generation of citizens, they themselves needed to be well educated in order to teach their children. She never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/women-were-responsible-for-raising-next-generation-of-citizens-they/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“Heart agitated with remains of former passion is most susceptible to a new one...How unpardonable would it have been in you to have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/heart-agitated-with-remains-of-former-passion-is-most-susceptible-to/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“America will not wear chains while her daughters are virtuous, but corrupt their morals by a general depravity, believe me sir a state or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/america-will-not-wear-chains-while-her-daughters-are-virtuous-but/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“To deny James an education was attacking principles of liberty and equality upon the only ground which it ought to be supported and equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/to-deny-james-an-education-was-attacking-principles-of-liberty-and/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“For a woman, there is no such thing as retirement. She always enjoyed her role as wife, mother, and household manager.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/for-a-woman-there-is-no-such-thing-as-retirement-she-always-enjoyed/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“Liberty yes - but equality for all men? The end of all distinctions of social class? Such thinking smacked of anarchy, and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/liberty-yes-but-equality-for-all-men-the-end-of-all-distinctions-of/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“Services rendered to a country in a diplomatic line can be known only to a few – if they are important and they become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/services-rendered-to-a-country-in-a-diplomatic-line-can-be-known-only/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“What most upset her, was the widespread use of slave labor. ...It is true Republicanism that drives the slaves half fed, and destitute of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/what-most-upset-her-was-the-widespread-use-of-slave-labor-it-is-true/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“A state of inactivity was never mean for man…There are hours when I feel unequal to the trial...Let no person say what they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/a-state-of-inactivity-was-never-mean-for-man-there-are-hours-when-i/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“What a sad misfortune is to have body in one place and soul in another...I love to feel free...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/what-a-sad-misfortune-is-to-have-body-in-one-place-and-soul-in/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) > [“Prudence is a sorry matchmaker...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/prudence-is-a-sorry-matchmaker/) [Lynne Withey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) [Explore all 26 Lynne Withey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/) ## More Confession quotes > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [A love to Christ which is so cowardly and selfish that it is unwilling to proclaim by a public confession its faith in Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-eliot-kittredge/a-love-to-christ-which-is-so-cowardly-and-selfish-that-it-is/) [Abbott Eliot Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-eliot-kittredge/) > [Boys say its great..boys say its fine... 9 months later boys say its not mine..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-ngr/boys-say-its-great-boys-say-its-fine-9-months-later-boys-say-its-not/) [Simi Ngr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-ngr/) > [The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities. That is why I am equally fond of them all and equally horrified by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-characters-in-my-novels-are-my-own-unrealized-possibilities-that/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Notoriety and public confession in the literary form is a frazzler of the heart you were born with, believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/notoriety-and-public-confession-in-the-literary-form-is-a-frazzler-of/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [In Confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-confession-jesus-welcomes-us-with-all-our-sinfulness-to-give-us-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [A man does not have to feel less than human to realize his sin; oppositely, he has to realize that he gets no special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/a-man-does-not-have-to-feel-less-than-human-to-realize-his-sin/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“I was going to make a confession. Then I remembered I don't make them very well. We still need to see the monkeys." "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-was-going-to-make-a-confession-then-i-remembered-i-don-t-make-them/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yelena-you-ve-driven-me-crazy-you-ve-caused-me-considerable-trouble/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“in other words, his story was part boast, part confession.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/in-other-words-his-story-was-part-boast-part-confession/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [“I have a confession to make.121 Almost every time I tune in to religious radio or TV, I want to change my religion. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-have-a-confession-to-make-121-almost-every-time-i-tune-in-to/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [A catechism is simply a tool for teaching the fundamentals of the faith. Unlike a creed or confession, a catechism uses questions and answers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/a-catechism-is-simply-a-tool-for-teaching-the-fundamentals-of-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“I’m beginning to get the feeling that confession is what we need in order to forgive ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-kuhn/i-m-beginning-to-get-the-feeling-that-confession-is-what-we-need-in/) [Shane Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-kuhn/) > [“We need repentance. You see, repentance is not only going to a priest and confessing. We must free ourselves from the obsession of thoughts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/we-need-repentance-you-see-repentance-is-not-only-going-to-a-priest/) [Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/) > [You said, I love you. I said it too. The only difference is, I didn't lie to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-said-i-love-you-i-said-it-too-the-only-difference-is-i-didn-t-lie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 909 Confession quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The custom of confession seemed designed to encourage sin by granting ready forgiveness. Neither Abigail nor any member of her family ever wavered in their preference for life in America over life in Europe. In France they lived far grander style than they ever lived in Braintree. ...her unshakable belief was that America was superior to Europe - superiority based on simplicity, its supposed lack of extreme wealth and class distinctions, its religion and its emphasis on family”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lynne Withey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/the-custom-of-confession-seemed-designed-to-encourage-sin-by-granting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confession" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/the-custom-of-confession-seemed-designed-to-encourage-sin-by-granting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/lynne-withey-23081_forgiveness_the-custom-of-confession-seemed-designed_769804.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/lynne-withey-23081_forgiveness_the-custom-of-confession-seemed-designed_769804.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/lynne-withey-23081_forgiveness_the-custom-of-confession-seemed-designed_769804.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The custom of confession seemed designed to encourage sin by granting ready forgiveness. Neither Abigail nor…” — Lynne Withey", "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": "Lynne Withey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-withey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The custom of confession seemed designed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/the-custom-of-confession-seemed-designed-to-encourage-sin-by-granting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-withey/the-custom-of-confession-seemed-designed-to-encourage-sin-by-granting/#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 } } ] } ```