--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: good to begin with, and it was worse…" description: "\"“good to begin with, and it was worse after a few drinks. “Why does city smell so bad? Like old soup? Like sink full of dishes?” The barman laughed. “T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/leigh-bardugo-252_barman_good-to-begin-with-and-it-was-worse-afte_2766287.jpg" --- # good to begin with, and it was worse after a few drinks… ![“good to begin with, and it was worse after a few drinks. “Why does city smell so bad? Like old soup? Like sink full of dishes?” The barman laughed. “That’s just Ketterdam. You get used to it.” Retvenko shook his” quote by Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/leigh-bardugo-252_barman_good-to-begin-with-and-it-was-worse-afte_2766287.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/leigh-bardugo-252_barman_good-to-begin-with-and-it-was-worse-afte_2766287.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/leigh-bardugo-252_barman_good-to-begin-with-and-it-was-worse-afte_2766287.jpg) > ““good to begin with, and it was worse after a few drinks. “Why does city smell so bad? Like old soup? Like sink full of dishes?” The barman laughed. “That’s just Ketterdam. You get used to it.” Retvenko shook his”” [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The city’s harsh environment is accepted after initial shock, showing adaptation to unpleasant surroundings. **In simple terms:** People get used to bad smells after a while. Key Takeaway Accept and adapt to uncomfortable settings. Themes adaptation environment resilience Mood reflective neutral Type literary observational When to use this quote - living in a rough city - starting a new job - first impressions - cultural immersion Key Concepts urban decay social acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How does environment shape your tolerance? - When does adaptation become complacency? A Different Perspective The quote romanticizes hardship, ignoring genuine health concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barman-387726/) [Barman Laughed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barman-laughed-3208415/) [City Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city-smell-3208418/) [Dishes Barman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishes-barman-3208417/) [Worse Drinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse-drinks-3208416/) ## Related quotes > [“If one can know how good a city is by its smell, one should know how good a society is by the women's status.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/if-one-can-know-how-good-a-city-is-by-its-smell-one-should-know-how/) [Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/) > [The barman sidled toward them out of a back room. 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The barman was old, and old-fashioned, and when he served her one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-rucka/chace-went-to-the-bar-to-order-the-first-round-two-lagers-the-barman/) [Greg Rucka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-rucka/) > [And at the other end of the bar the world is full of the other type of person, who has a broken glass, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/and-at-the-other-end-of-the-bar-the-world-is-full-of-the-other-type/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by Leigh Bardugo > [“Aleksander." His eyes fluttered shut. "Don't let me be alone," he murmured. And then he was gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/aleksander-his-eyes-fluttered-shut-don-t-let-me-be-alone-he-murmured/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I don't care if you danced naked on the roof of the Little Palace with him. I love you, Alina, even the part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-don-t-care-if-you-danced-naked-on-the-roof-of-the-little-palace/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-frowned-i-thought-you-and-nina-chose-four-outbreak-sites-on-the/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I rolled my eyes. "For defending my honor, you dullard." He yanked me beneath a shadowed awning. I had a moment's panic when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-rolled-my-eyes-for-defending-my-honor-you-dullard-he-yanked-me/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've been waiting for you a long time, Alina" He said. "You and I are going to change the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-been-waiting-for-you-a-long-time-alina-he-said-you-and-i-are/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“They're all crazy, Oncat. Invisible armies, monster princes. Let's go set fire to something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/they-re-all-crazy-oncat-invisible-armies-monster-princes-let-s-go-set/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Saints!" I swore. "I forgot how often I want to stab you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/saints-i-swore-i-forgot-how-often-i-want-to-stab-you/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej knew the moment Kaz entered the Slat. His presence reverberated through the cramped rooms and crooked hallways as every thug, thief, dealer, con…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-knew-the-moment-kaz-entered-the-slat-his-presence-reverberated/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've risked my life for you. I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I'd do it again and again and again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-risked-my-life-for-you-i-ve-walked-half-the-length-of-ravka-for/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“You never know," said Nikolai. "I've been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet." "Please tell me you plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-never-know-said-nikolai-i-ve-been-busy-i-might-have-some/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Sure we do," said Theo, swatting at a branch. "We get to the spring, Alia gets cured. We argue over the best choice for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/sure-we-do-said-theo-swatting-at-a-branch-we-get-to-the-spring-alia/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“But I pushed down my confused tears and did as she asked, still hoping that whatever I’d broken might be repaired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/but-i-pushed-down-my-confused-tears-and-did-as-she-asked-still-hoping/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“There, she wrote fantastical tales that charmed children, and under another name, she penned rather more lurid works that kept her in nougat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/there-she-wrote-fantastical-tales-that-charmed-children-and-under/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Short on friends, your highness?" "And long on enemies," replied Nikolai.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/short-on-friends-your-highness-and-long-on-enemies-replied-nikolai/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. “Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/jesper-knocked-his-head-against-the-hull-and-cast-his-eyes-heavenward/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) [Explore all 782 Leigh Bardugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## More Barman quotes > [The barman sidled toward them out of a back room. He was a grump-looking old man with a great deal of a long gray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-barman-sidled-toward-them-out-of-a-back-room-he-was-a-grump/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Chace went to the bar to order the first round, two lagers. The barman was old, and old-fashioned, and when he served her one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-rucka/chace-went-to-the-bar-to-order-the-first-round-two-lagers-the-barman/) [Greg Rucka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-rucka/) > [“What’s that thing when someone gets a knock on the head and suddenly can’t remember anything about himself?’ Death,’ said the barman, his face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-aylett/what-s-that-thing-when-someone-gets-a-knock-on-the-head-and-suddenly/) [Steve Aylett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-aylett/) > [“The harp player had just fallen off the stage and cracked his head on an Italian tourist’s pint. There was a big cheer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-mccarthy/the-harp-player-had-just-fallen-off-the-stage-and-cracked-his-head-on/) [Pete McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-mccarthy/) > [An Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman walk into a bar. The barman looks at them and says: "Is this some kind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-carson/an-englishman-an-irishman-and-a-scotsman-walk-into-a-bar-the-barman/) [Frank Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-carson/) > [“We talked to each other as you'd talk to a stranger you'd met while drunk after the barman calls for last orders, sure you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elina-hirvonen/we-talked-to-each-other-as-you-d-talk-to-a-stranger-you-d-met-while/) [Elina Hirvonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elina-hirvonen/) > [“   The barman came to the other side of the counter. "Time please," he said. Harriet said: "You mustn't hurry a lady drinking a pint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/the-barman-came-to-the-other-side-of-the-counter-time-please-he-said/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [A jump lead walks into a bar. The barman says "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/a-jump-lead-walks-into-a-bar-the-barman-says-i-ll-serve-you-but-don-t/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [“They looked up. Someone with a face and apron that said ‘barman’ in seven hundred languages was standing over them, a wine jug in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/they-looked-up-someone-with-a-face-and-apron-that-said-barman-in/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Long story,’ I said. ‘Ah,’ the barman said, like he understood everything there was to know about me, ‘we’ve all got one of those,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/long-story-i-said-ah-the-barman-said-like-he-understood-everything/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [And at the other end of the bar the world is full of the other type of person, who has a broken glass, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/and-at-the-other-end-of-the-bar-the-world-is-full-of-the-other-type/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Browse all 12 Barman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barman-387726/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“good to begin with, and it was worse after a few drinks. “Why does city smell so bad? 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