What does quid to exempta iuvat spinis de pluribus una mean?

The phrase "quid to exempta iuvat spinis de pluribus una" is a quote from the Roman poet Horace (65-8 BC). It is typically translated as:

"What does it help to take out one thorn from many?"

Here's a breakdown of the phrase:

* quid: What

* to: to (conjunction)

* exempta: taken out, removed

* iuvat: helps

* spinis: thorns (plural)

* de: from

* pluribus: many

* una: one

Meaning and Context:

This quote speaks to the futility of addressing problems piecemeal. It suggests that removing just one thorn from a collection of thorns doesn't actually solve the underlying issue. In a broader context, it can refer to the need to address the root cause of a problem, rather than just dealing with individual symptoms.

Example Usage:

The quote could be used to argue against a piecemeal approach to solving a complex problem. For example, you could say, "Trying to fix our education system by simply increasing funding is like trying to remove one thorn from many: it might provide some temporary relief, but it doesn't address the underlying problems."