[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fBqo3ZeVKg6x6RFVrAUT2AsQ5xAlZITh0wz9FH2-2WcY":3,"$fkk70INXhSkU1-Ih_X7SRgDNYmdUxIG7GAmsKc2f4sx0":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},210163,"Thomas Cullinan","T",6,null,"thomas-cullinan",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":52},[14,21,27,34,40,46],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":8,"has_image":17,"author":18,"source":19,"quote_tag":20,"commentary":9},3472835,"With very few exceptions I have never remained in mutual favor very long with people I have known well. They very quickly find things wrong with me, or I with them. And I suppose nowadays I anticipate the disillusionment of others by keeping free of any illusions myself.",false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":22,"quote_text":23,"author_id":5,"source_id":8,"has_image":17,"author":24,"source":25,"quote_tag":26,"commentary":9},3472831,"She weeps, like all the weak people in the world, for the lost days, for the way things once were and will never be again.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":28,"quote_text":29,"author_id":5,"source_id":8,"has_image":17,"author":30,"source":31,"quote_tag":32,"commentary":33},3472811,"Well, if I cannot be sensible and popular at the same time, then I will always choose the virtue rather than the friends.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],"**The Backstory**\n\nThomas Cullinan, a South African mining magnate and philanthropist, penned these words likely during his late 19th or early 20th century life in the Witwatersrand goldfields of South Africa. This era was marked by rapid industrialization, social change, and the complexities of navigating old-world values within a rapidly modernizing society.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nThe quote reveals a profound paradox: Cullinan prioritizes integrity (sensible) over popularity, choosing to stand alone rather than compromise his principles for social acceptance. This tension between virtue and friendships highlights the difficulty in maintaining one's individuality while also navigating societal expectations.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nTo apply this mindset today, modern professionals and creatives can benefit from adopting a \"virtue-centric\" approach: prioritize doing what is right over seeking approval or popularity, even if it means facing temporary isolation or social discomfort. By standing firm on their principles, individuals can maintain their integrity and avoid compromising their values in the pursuit of fleeting friendships or superficial success.",{"id":35,"quote_text":36,"author_id":5,"source_id":8,"has_image":17,"author":37,"source":38,"quote_tag":39,"commentary":9},3472804,"Whatever way it was, it only proved once again what my own mother always told me – no matter how fast you run, you can never get away from your past. It’s like your shadow, she used to say. Some people like to think their shadows disappear with the darkness but my mother always claimed that’s just the time the devil sets to work and your shadow catches up with you.",{"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":8,"has_image":17,"author":43,"source":44,"quote_tag":45,"commentary":9},3472785,"I just keep thinking that summer is here and the sun is shining and I have the whole wide sky to fly in.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":47,"quote_text":48,"author_id":5,"source_id":8,"has_image":17,"author":49,"source":50,"quote_tag":51,"commentary":9},3472768,"It is no longer a question – if it ever was – of who will be victorious, but only how much longer we can continue to bleed.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"currentPage":53,"totalPages":53,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":54},1,10]