As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The ship is completely still, like a picture of a ship on a picture of water.
- In plain terms
- The ship is stuck and not moving at all.
- What can you take from it?
- Stagnation can be as dangerous as motion.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does it feel to be stuck without moving?
Another view
The metaphor relies on visual art which may not be universal.
More from Samuel Taylor Coleridge
The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free: We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea.
Permalink to quote #43 Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.
Permalink to quote #45 'God save thee, ancient Mariner! From the fiends, that plague thee thus! - Why look'st thou so?' - With my cross-bow I shot the Albatross.
Permalink to quote #42
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