However good or bad

[lele]

Could you please tell me whether "however good or bad" in the sentence below modifies choices or consequences?

I hold you responsible for the consequences of your choices, however good or bad.

Thanks.

 

[Amigos4]

Could you please tell me whether "however good or bad" in the sentence below modifies choices or consequences?

I hold you responsible for the consequences of your choices, however good or bad.

Thanks.

Hi, lele!

'However' in this sentence means 'to whatever extent or degree; no matter how': I hold you responsible for the consequences of your choices, no matter how good or bad.
( I hold you responsible for the good consequences of your choices. I hold you responsible for the bad consequences of your choices. )

Cheers,
Amigos4

 

[David L.]

I find the sentence quite odd. Who would say that they will hold somebody responsible, accountable, culpable for 'good' outcomes/consequences? It would make me think twice about doing any good deed!

 

[Amigos4]

I find the sentence quite odd. Who would say that they will hold somebody responsible, accountable, regard them as culpable for some 'good' outcome? It would make the think twice about doing any good deed!

David,

Isn't the author essentially saying the following:

'I hold you responsible for the good consequences of your choices.' Choose well and I will reward/compensate/promote you!

I hold you responsible for the bad consequences of your choices. Choose poorly and I will warn/demote/fire you!

Cheers,
Amigos4

 

[mykwyner]

I don't think that the choices and consequences can be separated. Good choices will yield good outcomes and vice versa.

I hold you responsible for the consequences of your choices, however good or bad [the choices and their consequences may be].

 

[louhevly]

David,

Isn't the author essentially saying the following:

'I hold you responsible for the good consequences of your choices.' Choose well and I will reward/compensate/promote you!

I hold you responsible for the bad consequences of your choices. Choose poorly and I will warn/demote/fire you!

Cheers,
Amigos4

I would say that "I hold you responsible" is only used when the possible consequences are negative. I agree with David that "I hold you responsible for something good" doesn't make much sense.

Lou

 

[lele]

I thought along the same line as Amigos4.

You make the right choice, and I reward you. You make the wrong one, and I punish you.

However, they other guys are right. The reason why I posted my question is that I find the sentence, which I came across in a book, quite odd.

Thanks for your inputs.

 

[Amigos4]

I thought along the same line as Amigos4.

You make the right choice, and I reward you. You make the wrong one, and I punish you.

However, they other guys are right. The reason why I posted my question is that I find the sentence, which I came across in a book, quite odd.

Thanks for your inputs.

lele, please forgive us for not extending a proper welcome to you upon your first visit to the Forum! We are happy that you have joined our merry little group!

Please do us a favor and tell us where the book was published. Does the book provide background information pertaining to the author's credentials?

I agree with you... 'You make the right choice, and I reward you. You make the wrong one, and I punish you.' Let's see 'where' and 'when' the book was published!

Cheers,
Amigos4

 

[lele]

Amigos4, thank you for extending your welcome to a newcomer. You guys are real serious about language. And I like that.

This is the verbatim quote: "I also changed my strategy of discipline: I tried to hold the children responsible for the consequences of their choices, however good or bad."

Geral L. Sittser, A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss, ZondervanPublishingHouse, Michigan, 1995, p. 75

The author is a professor of religion at a college on the West Coast.

Lele

 

[Amigos4]

Amigos4, thank you for extending your welcome to a newcomer. You guys are real serious about language. And I like that.

This is the verbatim quote: "I also changed my strategy of discipline: I tried to hold the children responsible for the consequences of their choices, however good or bad."

Geral L. Sittser, A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss, ZondervanPublishingHouse, Michigan, 1995, p. 75

The author is a professor of religion at a college on the West Coast.

Lele

Lele,

Thank you for getting back to us.

I read the chapter in the book that contains the following sentence: "I also changed my strategy of discipline: I tried to hold the children responsible for the consequences of their choices, however good or bad."

When viewed in this context, it makes perfect sense to me that Dad wants his kids to be accountable for their behavior, as well as for the choices they make; making restitution is a logical consequence for a child throwing a baseball through a neighbor's window. Having to give-up going to the big dance may be an unfortunate consequence for the son whose football team has a game on the same night.

Thank you for sharing the sentence with us, Lele! It makes more sense to me now that I've read the context in which it was framed.

Cheers,
Amigos4