"Don't you think you're just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic?"

This quote is a metaphor for an useless effort. It suggests that the individual being attended to is attempting to repair a problem that is beyond repair. The Titanic is a symbol of a disaster that could not be avoided, and the deck chairs represent the individual's attempts to repair the problem. The quote indicates that the person's efforts are pointless and that they must accept the circumstance as it is. It is a tip that some things run out our control and that we should not squander our time and energy on useless efforts. It is a reminder to focus on what we can manage and to accept the things that we can not.