一寸の虫にも五分の魂 (いっすんのむしにもごぶのたましい): tread on a worm and it will turn; even a tiny bug will defend itself; even the weakest and smallest beings have their own wills, so do not make light of them
一寸の虫にも五分の魂
tread on a worm and it will turn; even a tiny bug will defend itself; even the weakest and smallest beings have their own wills, so do not make light of them
An insect one inch long still has half an inch of soul. A warning against pushing around someone small or junior, and equally a line the smaller party can use about themselves.