Big fleas have little fleas upon their back to bite ’em

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The wealthy exploit the impoverished; the powerful thrash the weak.

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Swift’s original, from his satirical poem On Poetry: A Rapsody, 1733: The Vermin only teaze and pinch, Their Foes superior by an Inch. So, Nat’ralists observe, a Flea Hath smaller Fleas that on him prey, And these have smaller yet to bite ’em,