Good, Bad, or Indifferent 😇😈
Definition: Embrace the unpredictable nature of people and situations—accept everything as it is, whether sublime, mediocre, or appalling.
Origins: The phrase pops up in the picturesque prose of Laurence Sterne’s Tristram Shandy (1760–67) and finds its poetic expression in Joel Barlow’s whimsical poem Hasty-Pudding (1792): “E’en Hasty Pudding, purest of all food, May still be bad, indifferent, or good.”
Related Terms and Expressions:
- Take it or leave it: Embrace reality or walk away.
- It is what it is: An acceptance of the status quo without undue distress.
- Roll with the punches: Adapt gracefully to life’s inevitable misfortunes.
Examples in Prose and Poetry:
- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller: Explores the absurdity of human situations, presenting characters who must embrace the good, the bad, and the indifferent.
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: Graphically depicts how life’s complexities require us to confront and accept reality in various guises.
Notable Quote:
- “E’en Hasty Pudding, purest of all food, May still be bad, indifferent, or good.” – Joel Barlow
Recommended Entertainment:
- Literature: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – A novel where characters must deal with complex human nature, both good and bad.
- Movies: Forrest Gump – A story about a man who takes life exactly as it is, with all its ups, downs, and indifferent moments.
- Songs: “Let It Be” by The Beatles – A melodic mantra for accepting life as it comes.
Quiz Corner
### Which of these terms means to take things as they come?
- [x] Good, bad, or indifferent
- [ ] Frosting on the cake
- [ ] Dancing in the moonlight
- [ ] Building castles in the sky
> **Explanation**: "Good, bad, or indifferent" encourages accepting and dealing with different qualities of life without prejudice.
### What phrase advises taking situations as they are?
- [ ] Cooked to perfection
- [ ] Butter side up
- [x] It is what it is
- [ ] Shiny spoon in hand
> **Explanation**: "It is what it is" advises accepting situations without making a fuss about their inherent nature.
### True or False: 'Roll with the punches' suggests adaptability.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation**: Rolling with the punches means gracefully adapting to adversity, much like the phrase "good, bad, or indifferent."
### In which of these works does the phrase, Good, Bad, or Indifferent originally appear?
- [x] Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne
- [ ] Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- [ ] The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
- [ ] Moby Dick by Herman Melville
> **Explanation**: The phrase first makes an appearance in *Tristram Shandy* by Laurence Sterne, reflecting the messy but indiscriminately accepted nature of life.
Take a page from life itself: Accept the good, bad, and indifferent without bias. Your journey will be richer for it. Happy navigating!
Warmly, Penelope Prose
