For Want of a Nail

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

I came across this proverb in another class and thought it very Hamletian.
It also brought a new light to the quote from Richard III, "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse."