[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fC8MCnq9AkAAgWn5NXsAp_YbAa-TpqZ0Ie_foW0HoWmE":3,"$fQandVXQBONU72fFdfMEYpC24KMdRvugNyt0eDdd-e_I":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},91069,"Michael Novak","M",58,null,"michael-novak",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":78},[14,22,28,34,41,47,53,60,66,72],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},3285951,"A friend asks if I know the difference between a saint and a martyr: A saint is someone who radiates goodness and bears no faults. A martyr is someone who lives with a saint.",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},3285933,"What is the most effective, practical way of raising the wealth of nations? What causes wealth? I have come to think that the dream of democratic socialism is inferior to the dream of democratic capitalism, and that the latter’s superiority in actual practice is undeniable.",{"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},3285928,"Command by instinct is swifter, subtler, deeper, more accurate, more in touch with reality than command by conscious mind. The discovery takes one’s breath away.",{"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":40},3285923,"You’re a sovereign as a citizen. If you’re not involved in your government, you’re not doing your job. In the long run that’s very bad for the Republic.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nMichael Novak, an American philosopher and public policy analyst, likely wrote or said these words in the context of his work on civic engagement and democracy. As a prominent advocate for the role of civil society in shaping public policy, Novak was known for his emphasis on individual responsibility and participation in the democratic process. This quote likely reflects his concerns about the erosion of civic involvement in the 1980s and 1990s, a period marked by declining voter turnout and increasing disillusionment with government.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe counter-intuitive truth in this quote lies in its subtle reversal of the common assumption that citizens are passive recipients of government services. Novak's statement implies that citizens are not merely beneficiaries of government but are, in fact, co-creators of it. By framing citizenship as a sovereign role, Novak highlights the tension between individual agency and collective responsibility, suggesting that citizens who disengage from the democratic process are not only failing themselves but also compromising the health of the Republic.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset today, professionals and creatives can adopt a more proactive approach to civic engagement, recognizing that their participation in the democratic process is not only a moral obligation but also a strategic investment in the well-being of their communities and the institutions that serve them. By taking an active role in shaping public policy and holding elected officials accountable, individuals can not only assert their sovereignty as citizens but also cultivate a sense of agency and purpose in their personal and professional lives.",{"id":42,"quote_text":43,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":44,"source":45,"quote_tag":46,"commentary":9},3285912,"Don’t be afraid of anything. We’ve seen so much suffering and evil in the 20th century and we got through it. We can go on. God is with us. God will help us. Trust Him.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":48,"quote_text":49,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":50,"source":51,"quote_tag":52,"commentary":9},3285905,"Individual freedom is a Jewish idea, but it’s one of the functions of Christianity to make this idea universal.",{"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":59},3285904,"Everything I do that I’m enthusiastic about. This is genuine enthusiasm. If I don’t – I mean I’ve done other projects that I have not been a fan of until I realized I was doing it and I wasn’t really there. And I don’t do those anymore.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nMichael Novak, an American author and philosopher, likely penned this quote in the context of his prolific writing career. As a prominent Catholic intellectual, Novak was known for his work on topics such as the relationship between faith and politics, as well as his advocacy for free market economics. This quote reflects his emphasis on authenticity and personal passion in his creative endeavors.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nWhat's counter-intuitive about this quote is that Novak isn't advocating for the importance of perseverance or grit in pursuing projects that might not be inherently fulfilling. Instead, he's highlighting the value of self-awareness and the willingness to walk away from endeavors that fail to spark genuine enthusiasm. This reveals a nuanced understanding of the relationship between motivation and personal fulfillment.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset in your own creative pursuits, recognize that it's okay to let go of projects that don't genuinely excite you. Prioritize your time and energy on initiatives that align with your passions, rather than forcing yourself to see a project through to completion solely for the sake of completion.",{"id":61,"quote_text":62,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":63,"source":64,"quote_tag":65,"commentary":9},3285901,"Our Founders always wondered about how long it would last. The price of liberty is everlasting vigilance. You’ve got to be on your guard every minute or you will lose it.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":67,"quote_text":68,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":69,"source":70,"quote_tag":71,"commentary":9},3285869,"In most of history, societies have not been free. It’s a very rare society that is free. The default condition of human societies is tyranny.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":73,"quote_text":74,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":75,"source":76,"quote_tag":77,"commentary":9},3285842,"Our capacity for self-deception has no known limits.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"currentPage":79,"totalPages":17,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":80},1,10]