Business Quotes
Fishes live in the sea, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones.
"Fishes live in the sea, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones."— William Shakespeare
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Meaning of this quote
The comparison between fish and people exposes how the powerful can exploit the vulnerable. It is a criticism of predatory social behaviour, rather than an endorsement of domination.
Key takeaway:
Notice and challenge power that feeds on vulnerability.
Origin of the quote
Pericles, Act 2, Scene 1. The First Fisherman compares life on land with larger fish consuming smaller fish, in response to another fisherman's question.
Who actually said this?
VerifiedThe post condenses the exchange rather than reproducing a single uninterrupted line. Pericles is commonly treated as a collaboration between Shakespeare and George Wilkins.
