[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f4VhO8pYByrXaTPzbLLQhTmvVrsgLJvw_zgMxowvf4xg":3,"$fkY9LqHoCi-R1HDcThMOVtEDMJyLtbddWh5eEOJWEFiI":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},12075,"Mihail Sebastian","M",22,null,"mihail-sebastian",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":103},[14,23,29,35,41,47,53,59,71,82],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":22},3291482,"A book either knocks you down or raises you up.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\n\nMihail Sebastian's quote \"A book either knocks you down or raises you up\" resonates with his experiences as a Romanian Jew living through the tumultuous 1930s and World War II. During this period, literature was both a source of escapism and a means to confront the harsh realities of politics and society.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nWhat lies beneath the surface is not just a binary choice between two opposing outcomes but rather an acknowledgment that reading can be a profoundly unsettling experience, especially when encountering texts that challenge one's worldview or expose uncomfortable truths. This sentiment speaks to the idea that literature has the power to disrupt our comfort zones and force us to confront aspects of ourselves and society we might rather ignore.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nWhen approaching new ideas or perspectives through reading, remember that the line between growth and discomfort is thin. Be prepared for texts to knock you down by challenging your assumptions, but also know that this process can ultimately raise you up by broadening your understanding and empathy.",{"id":24,"quote_text":25,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":26,"source":27,"quote_tag":28,"commentary":9},3291461,"The abundance of beards in periods of social unrest, times of revolt or upheaval, should be noted. It’s the handiest way people have of making themselves mysterious.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":30,"quote_text":31,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":32,"source":33,"quote_tag":34,"commentary":9},3291443,"You see, the notion of “sin” is for me an abstraction. There’s no such thing as “sin”. There’s only such a thing as “tactlessness”.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":36,"quote_text":37,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":38,"source":39,"quote_tag":40,"commentary":9},3291431,"Doesn’t being over-familiar put you at a disadvantage? A more formal way of speaking doesn’t just mean you’re being polite, it’s also a way of protecting yourself.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":42,"quote_text":43,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":44,"source":45,"quote_tag":46,"commentary":9},3291420,"I’ve always believed that the only defeats and victories that matter in life are those you lose or win alone, against yourself.",{"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},3291398,"Imbecilitatea indoctrinata e mai greu de suportat decat imbecilitatea pura si simpla.",{"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},3291382,"Dumneata esti tot ce am detestat mai mult in viata. O fata desteapta. Groaznica specie.",{"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":62,"has_image":18,"author":63,"source":64,"quote_tag":65,"commentary":9},721845,"Barurile astea sunt ca femeile: nu ştii nici de ce vin, nici de ce te lasă.",2,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[66],{"id":67,"tag":68},3518478,{"id":69,"tag_name":70},16193,"citat",{"id":72,"quote_text":73,"author_id":5,"source_id":62,"has_image":18,"author":74,"source":75,"quote_tag":76,"commentary":9},689788,"Sometimes symbolism is too obvious.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[77],{"id":78,"tag":79},3436140,{"id":80,"tag_name":81},10151,"symbolism",{"id":83,"quote_text":84,"author_id":5,"source_id":62,"has_image":18,"author":85,"source":86,"quote_tag":87,"commentary":9},617803,"Doesn't being over-familiar put you at a disadvantage? A more formal way of speaking doesn't just mean you're being polite, it's also a way of protecting yourself.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[88,93,98],{"id":89,"tag":90},3222612,{"id":91,"tag_name":92},4780,"manners",{"id":94,"tag":95},3222613,{"id":96,"tag_name":97},10946,"reserve",{"id":99,"tag":100},3222611,{"id":101,"tag_name":102},32566,"familiarity",{"currentPage":104,"totalPages":105,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":106},1,3,10]