something is rotten in the state of denmark

The phrase "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" is a famous line from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It is spoken by Marcellus, a guard, as he and another guard watch the ghost of Hamlet's father appear. The phrase is often used to suggest that there is corruption or deceit occurring within a particular situation or society. It reflects the idea that there is an underlying problem or wrongdoing that needs to be addressed.