The bigger they are, the harder they fall
Meaning: Powerful people suffer greater consequences when they fail.
Origin: Usually traced to the boxer Bob Fitzsimmons, a small heavyweight who routinely gave away a great deal of weight. Newspapers reported a version of the line from him in 1902, before his rematch with the much heavier James J. Jeffries, though the exact wording varies from one account to the next. Jeffries won that fight, as he had in 1899, but the line outlived both.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Plus dure sera la chute (literally: The harder the fall will be)
- Spanish: Cuanto más alto, más dura la caída (literally: The higher, the harder the fall)
- Japanese: 大きいほど倒れ方も激しい (Ōkii hodo taorekata mo hageshii) (literally: The bigger something is, the harder it falls)
- German: Wer hoch steigt, fällt tief (literally: He who climbs high falls deep)
More proverbs about Human Nature
- Beauty is only skin deep — Physical appearance is superficial; character matters more.
- East or west, home is best — No matter where you go, home remains the best place.
- Variety is the spice of life — Diversity makes life interesting.
- Speak of the devil — Said when someone appears just as they're being discussed.
- You can't please everyone — It's impossible to satisfy every person all the time.
- A leopard can't change its spots — People can't fundamentally change their nature.
From our compliments & insults
- Eres muy majo/a — You're a lovely, kind, and genuine person — the nicest way to compliment someone's charac…
- Tienes mucho corazón — You're extraordinarily generous and warm — you give more than you need to.
- Tienes mucho arte — You have natural flair, charm, and creative talent — an effortless quality that can't be…