fly too close to the sun
Risk through ambition
To fly too close to the sun is to pursue ambition so recklessly that it causes your downfall.
The phrase comes from the Greek myth of Icarus, who flew on wings of wax and feathers but ignored warnings not to go too high—the sun melted the wax and he fell to his death.
The expression warns against overreaching: He flew too close to the sun and lost everything.
- IcarusMythical overreacher who fell
- DaedalusLegendary craftsman and inventor
- Greek mythologyAncient Greek divine narratives
- cautionary talesStories conveying warnings
- cautionary taleStory illustrating consequences
ambition · downfall · burning out · overconfidence · playing with fire · recklessness · too much too fast · arrogance · failure · tragic heroes · rise and fall · Nemesis · punishment · pride · moral lessons · tragedy · labyrinth · hubris
fly too close to the sunplay it safe
Avoid unnecessary chances
stay in one's lane · err on the side of caution · hedge one's bets · don't rock the boat · keep a low profile
fly too close to the sunslow and steady wins the race
Patience outperforms haste
live to fight another day · quit while one is ahead · leave well enough alone · count one's blessings