The higher the standing the lower the fall.

Meaning: Elevated positions carry greater vulnerability to catastrophic collapse due to accumulated distance from stable ground.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Wisdom

• Stars are not seen during sunshine. — Greatness becomes invisible when overwhelmed by more dominant presences or circumstances.
• He would starve in a cook-shop. — Incompetence in one's own field ensures failure, even surrounded by abundance and opportu…
• When the steed is stolen the stable door shall be shut. — Preventive measures matter more than remedies; protection must come before loss occurs.
• Step by step the ladder is climbed. — Incremental progress through consistent effort achieves what rushing toward ambitious goa…
• Whoso lacketh a stock, his gain's not worth a chip. — Without capital to reinvest profits, modest earnings disappear into daily expenses rather…
• The full stomach loatheth the honeycomb, but to the hungry every bitter thing is sweet. — Hunger transforms perception; satisfied people reject what starving people gratefully acc…

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…