even a worm will turn

== English == === Etymology === First attested in a collection of proverbs by John Heywood in 1546, in the form “Treade a worme on the tayle, and it must turne agayne.” Popularized by William Shakespeare in The Third Part of Henry the Sixth, see quotations. === Proverb === even a worm will turn Even the meekest or most docile people will retaliate or seek revenge if pushed too far. ==== Related terms ==== ==== See also ==== === Further reading === even a worm will turn on Wikipedia.Wikipedia