What does "take the crookeds with the straights" mean?

The phrase "take the crookeds with the straights" signifies the acceptance of both hardship and good fortune as inseparable parts of life's journey. It encapsulates a philosophy where one must embrace misfortune just as readily as one embraces good fortune, recognizing that both are inevitable aspects of existence.

Understanding the Core Meaning

At its heart, this expression conveys the idea that life is not a linear path of constant ease. Instead, it's a mix of positive ("straights") and negative ("crookeds") experiences. To "take" them implies a form of acceptance, endurance, and integration of all life throws your way.

This perspective highlights:

• Duality of Life: Life encompasses both joy and sorrow, success and failure. True living involves acknowledging and experiencing both.
• Inevitability of Misfortune: A fundamental belief underpinning this phrase is that misfortune is an unavoidable and inherent part of life. It's not something to be evaded but rather something that everyone must, at some point, encounter and navigate.
• Equanimity: It suggests maintaining a balanced emotional state, not being overly elated by successes nor overly despondent by setbacks.

The Philosophy of Acceptance

The underlying philosophy is that one must experience and accept all aspects of life. Misfortune is not an anomaly but a standard component of the human condition. This outlook promotes a form of realism, acknowledging that difficult times are not only possible but guaranteed to occur.

Implication of a Defeatist Attitude

While grounded in realism, the phrase can also subtly imply a defeatist attitude. The choice of words, particularly "crookeds with the straights," might suggest a passive resignation to life's difficulties rather than an active effort to overcome or change them. This nuance points to:

• Passive Endurance: A tendency to simply endure hardships rather than actively striving to alter the circumstances or improve one's situation.
• Resignation: A sense of yielding to fate, where one might believe they have limited power to influence or mitigate the "crooked" paths of life.

Practical Application

Embracing this philosophy in daily life can lead to:

• Increased Resilience: A greater capacity to bounce back from adversity by accepting it as a natural part of the process.
• Balanced Perspective: Viewing challenges not as insurmountable obstacles but as integrated parts of one's journey.
• Reduced Stress: Acknowledging that not everything can be controlled, thereby reducing the stress associated with striving for constant perfection or ease.