Fowls will not spare a cockroach that falls in their midst.
What it means
This proverb is a warning advising us to avoid naively falling prey to our competition, enemies, or others who depend on our downfall for their successes. Fowls need food to survive, and a cockroach is their delicacy. Just as fowls pounce on a cockroach without hesitation, those who gain from our downfall will seize on our weaknesses.
