Accepting the Ups and Downs of Life
How can we understand Troy's comment about, "You've got to take the crookeds with the straights"?
What does this phrase mean in the context of life's experiences?
Troy's line, "You've got to take the crookeds with the straights" from the play 'Fences', means that one must accept both the good and the bad experiences that life offers.
Explanation: "You've got to take the crookeds with the straights." This phrase is used in August Wilson's play 'Fences' and was spoken by the character Troy. The saying implies that life is a mixture of good and bad times, or favorable and unfavorable circumstances. In other words, the 'straights' refer to the good times or smooth-going aspects of life; while the 'crookeds' stand for the difficult, challenging, or bad times. This reflection by Troy can be traced back to his own life experiences of struggle, hardship, and fleeting moments of happiness. Hence, the phrase signifies acceptance of life's ups and downs.