You are correct. That is the original meaning of the metaphor. Spoiling is a non-reversible state.
The point was that you cannot remove the bad apple without it already having affected the other apples. The other metaphor is simply weeding the garden.
You are correct. That is the original meaning of the metaphor. Spoiling is a non-reversible state.
The point was that you cannot remove the bad apple without it already having affected the other apples. The other metaphor is simply weeding the garden.
Sounds so easy! Why aren’t we doing it then?
Because the apples, all rotten, are in command.
Doing what? Discarding the whole bunch or weeding the garden?