“Well, and what else do you want? that's life.”Ion Luca Caragiale · Momente și schițe · 1901 · Grand Hotel „Victoria
Caragiale puts into a character's mouth an almost comic resignation: any complaint is met with 'that's life.' It's a defense mechanism that justifies inaction. Instead of changing something, passive acceptance becomes an excuse not to try. The irony is that the character doesn't even try to get more.
Why it matters Use this phrase to recognize when you're hiding behind fatalism and to ask yourself if you can do something.