ProverbWisdomLatin origin

Eagles don't catch flies

Meaning: People of high purpose and ambition don't concern themselves with petty matters.

Origin: Erasmus collected the Latin aquila non capit muscas in his Adagia. The great and powerful do not concern themselves with trifles.

Equivalents in French, Spanish, German, and Italian

  • French: L'aigle ne chasse pas les mouches (literally: The eagle does not hunt flies)
  • Spanish: El águila no caza moscas (literally: The eagle doesn't hunt flies)
  • German: Adler fangen keine Fliegen (literally: Eagles do not catch flies)
  • Italian: L'aquila non piglia mosche (literally: The eagle doesn't catch flies)

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