William Shakespeare had a gift for capturing the troubles of the world in a single, powerful image. In his play Richard III, he writes, "The world is grown so bad, that wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch."
This line is more than old poetry; it is a sharp observation about how corruption and fear can turn the natural order upside down.
Let's picture the scene Shakespeare paints. An eagle is a symbol of mighty power, nobility, and fearless strength. A wren, in contrast, is one of the smallest and most timid of birds. In a just and orderly world, the mighty eagle soars high and perches where it wishes, while the small wren stays hidden in the bushes, careful and afraid.
But Shakespeare tells us the world has become so twisted and "so bad" that this natural order has reversed. Now, it is the weak and cunning wren who feels bold enough to hunt and steal—to "make prey"—in the very places that are too dangerous or corrupt even for the brave eagle. The strong and honorable are forced to hold back, while the petty and unscrupulous seize power and opportunity in the chaos.
This is a timeless idea. It describes any time when a society's rules and morals break down. In such a climate, true strength and integrity become a liability. Honorable people—the "eagles"—withdraw because the cost of acting is too high, or the game is too dirty. This creates a vacuum. Into that space rush the "wrens": the minor schemers, the bullies, and the corrupt officials who would never dare to act if the powerful were still in their rightful place. They thrive not on courage, but on the absence of it in others.
We can see this play out in many arenas. In a badly run company, skilled and principled employees may leave, allowing mediocre or unethical ones to rise. In a fearful community, good citizens may stay silent, letting the loud and malicious set the tone. The play's own villain, Richard III, is the perfect "wren"—a physically weak and cruel man who seizes a kingdom precisely because the noble and strong around him have been destroyed by mistrust and infighting.
The quote reminds us that a healthy society is one where the strong protect the weak with honor, and where courage, not cunning, is rewarded. When the opposite becomes true, it is a sure sign that the world has, indeed, "grown so bad."
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