[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f_EeZaD5iDfvgZ0Ch6h0V0ju3_9ClTa-i88kcnBqW5q0":3,"$f_oc_FvZPw4RK5KdW9_z_BH38XQGg6laHbFNqXVWZGEg":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},8130,"Matt Ruff","M",26,null,"matt-ruff",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":78},[14,22,28,34,40,47,53,59,65,71],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},3270830,"White people in his experience were far more transparent. The most hateful rarely bothered to conceal their hostility, and when for some reason they did try to hide their feelings, they generally exhibited all the guile of five-year-olds, who cannot imagine that the world sees them other than as they wish to be seen.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":23,"quote_text":24,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":25,"source":26,"quote_tag":27,"commentary":9},3270814,"What you going to do?” she cried. “You break my neck, and the what? You think I won’t come back and haunt you? Go ahead! Make me a ghost! See what that gets you.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":29,"quote_text":30,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":31,"source":32,"quote_tag":33,"commentary":9},3270800,"It never fails,” Montrose said. “No matter what they do to you, afterwards it’s like nothing happened. You’re supposed to just be grateful you’re still breathing.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":35,"quote_text":36,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":37,"source":38,"quote_tag":39,"commentary":9},3270790,"Warren Dandridge had insisted that poker was a Christian game: Players who practiced virtue – learning and respecting the odds, keeping their emotions in check, managing their bankrolls intelligently – tended to prosper, while those who succumbed to vice – chasing long shots, letting passion rule reason – went the way of all unrepentant sinners.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":41,"quote_text":42,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":43,"source":44,"quote_tag":45,"commentary":46},3270775,"Montrose could have simply forbidden him to read such things. Atticus knew other sons whose fathers had done that, who’d thrown their comic books and Amazing Stories collections into the trash. But Montrose, with limited exceptions, didn’t believe in book-banning. He always insisted he just wanted Atticus to think about what he read, rather than imbibing it mindlessly, and Atticus, if he were being honest, had to admit that was a reasonable goal.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nThis quote appears in Matt Ruff's novel \"Set This House in Order\", published in 2003. At that time, Ruff was exploring the complexities of identity, trauma, and the power of storytelling through the eyes of his protagonist, Atticus. The era of the book's publication coincided with a growing interest in LGBTQ+ literature and the struggle for queer representation.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nWhat lies beneath this seemingly innocuous discussion about reading habits is a profound commentary on the nature of intellectual freedom and responsibility. Montrose's approach, far from being permissive or lax, actually embodies a nuanced understanding that true engagement with challenging ideas requires critical thinking rather than mere censorship.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset today, consider adopting a similar approach when engaging with difficult or provocative content: instead of dismissing it outright, take the time to critically evaluate and think deeply about its implications. By doing so, you'll cultivate a more thoughtful and intentional relationship with information, allowing you to navigate complex issues with greater nuance and depth.",{"id":48,"quote_text":49,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":50,"source":51,"quote_tag":52,"commentary":9},3270768,"April, she had died. April could still be a very cold month in Ithaca, though it was certainly not the best month for dying of exposure. A depressed person would have a better bet walking along the edge of one of the gorges and “accidentally” falling in. Of course the man Jessop had done neither; hand-making his daughter’s tombstone had probably kept him too occupied to even consider suicide. Yes. That was it; that was the key. An act of creation in the face of loss.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":54,"quote_text":55,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":56,"source":57,"quote_tag":58,"commentary":9},3270754,"He always insisted he just wanted Atticus to think about what he read, rather than imbibing it mindlessly, and Atticus, if he were being honest, had to admit that was a reasonable goal.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":60,"quote_text":61,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":62,"source":63,"quote_tag":64,"commentary":9},3270746,"You can’t buy goodwill with money that ain’t yours. It’s not a favor to pay what’s owed.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":66,"quote_text":67,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":68,"source":69,"quote_tag":70,"commentary":9},3270734,"Something else that puzzles me about other people is that a lot of them don’t know their purpose in life. This usually does bother them – more than not being able to remember being born, anyway – but I can’t even imagine it. Part of knowing who I am is knowing why I am, and I’ve always known who I am, from the first moment.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":72,"quote_text":73,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":74,"source":75,"quote_tag":76,"commentary":77},3270720,"Atticus tried not to care, telling himself paperbacks were meant to be abused, but it was hard, like watching friends get knocked around.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\n\nThis poignant quote is from Matt Ruff's novel \"Set This House in Order\", published in 2003. At that time, Ruff was grappling with his own experiences of identity, belonging, and the impermanence of relationships. The novel is a powerful exploration of the complexities of human connection and the fragility of our emotional lives.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nOn the surface, the quote appears to be about the practicality of treating books as disposable objects. However, upon closer examination, it reveals a profound insight into the human tendency to project emotions onto inanimate objects. The author is highlighting the tension between acknowledging the impermanence of things and feeling attached to them, like watching friends get hurt.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nTo apply this mindset today, recognize that emotional detachment doesn't have to mean emotional numbness. When faced with a situation where you feel helpless or overwhelmed (like watching others struggle), acknowledge your feelings and allow yourself to absorb the emotions without becoming overly identified with them. This can help you maintain clarity and perspective in the midst of chaos.\n\nAs a behavioral psychologist, I'd add that this mindset is closely related to the concept of \"emotional inoculation.\" By acknowledging and accepting our emotions, rather than trying to suppress or avoid them, we build resilience and develop a greater sense of emotional intelligence. This enables us to navigate complex social situations with greater ease and empathy.",{"currentPage":79,"totalPages":80,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":81},1,3,10]