pride comes before a fall

English

Alternative forms

• pride goes before a fall, pride goeth before a fall, pride wenteth before a fall, pride cometh before a fall

Etymology

Probably a misquote of:

• 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Book of Proverbs, 16:18,

  Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

  • see also, James 4:6 (KJV): But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
  • and, 1 Peter 5:5 (KJV): Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Proverb

pride comes before a fall

1. A person who is excessively proud will often suffer a setback or failure.

Translations

Translations

• Czech: pýcha předchází pád
• Danish: hovmod står for fald
• Dutch: hoogmoed komt voor de val
• Finnish: ylpeys käy lankeemuksen edellä
• French: qui fait le malin tombe dans le ravin (fr)
• German: Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall (de)
• Icelandic: (haughtiness is closest to failure) dramb er falli næst

• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: hovmod står for fall (no)

• Polish: pycha poprzedza upadek
• Russian: горды́ня до добра́ не доведёт (gordýnja do dobrá ne dovedjót)
• Slovene: kdor visoko leta, nizko pade
• Swedish: högmod går före fall
• Vietnamese: trèo cao ngã đau

See also

• hamartia
• hubris
• the bigger they are, the harder they fall