--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The same wakefulness the individual…" description: "\"“The same wakefulness the individual Calvinist was to use to keep watch over his own sins Winthrop and Cotton called for also in the group at large. Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/sarah-vowell-2016_colony_the-same-wakefulness-the-individual-calv_3130161.jpg" --- # The same wakefulness the individual Calvinist was to use… ![“The same wakefulness the individual Calvinist was to use to keep watch over his own sins Winthrop and Cotton called for also in the group at large. This humility, this fear, was what kept their delusions of grandeur in check. That's what subsequent generations lost. From New England's Puritans we…” quote by Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/sarah-vowell-2016_colony_the-same-wakefulness-the-individual-calv_3130161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/sarah-vowell-2016_colony_the-same-wakefulness-the-individual-calv_3130161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/sarah-vowell-2016_colony_the-same-wakefulness-the-individual-calv_3130161.jpg) > ““The same wakefulness the individual Calvinist was to use to keep watch over his own sins Winthrop and Cotton called for also in the group at large. This humility, this fear, was what kept their delusions of grandeur in check. That's what subsequent generations lost. From New England's Puritans we inherited the idea that America is blessed and ordained by God above all nations, but lost the fear of wrath and retribution.”” [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early Puritan humility and fear of divine wrath kept collective ego in check; modern America lost that restraining force. **In simple terms:** Puritan fear limited arrogance; modern society lacks it. Key Takeaway Recognize humility as a societal balance. Themes history humility religion politics Mood reflective critical Type historical analytical When to use this quote - political discourse - education - public policy Key Concepts theology social control Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance humility with ambition? - What modern mechanisms replace religious fear? 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