ship of fools

名词 n.
中文释义

英文释义

名词 n.
  1. A country or organization that is poorly run by leaders who lack the expertise to cope with the problems that arise and equally inexpert subjects or members who attempt to influence those leaders.
    — Don’t tell us you need us, / ‘cause we’re the ship of fools; / looking for America, / coming through your schools!

词形变化

ships of fools plural

词源

From ship + of + fools, a calque of German Narrenschiff. From a German poem named "Narrenschiff", published in 1494 by Sebastian Brant, about a ship carrying 112 passengers, each of whom represents a specific human foible, which sails into oblivion. The poem was translated into English in 1509 by Alexander Barclay. Brant may have been inspired by an allegory that first appeared in Book VI of Plato's Republic, about a ship with a dysfunctional crew.
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