The wheel of Fortune tourneth as a ball; Sodeyn clymbyng axeth a sodeyn fall.
[a 1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (EETS) III. 953]
Clymbe not to fast, lest sodenlye ye slyde.
[c 1511 S. Hawes Comfort of Lovers (1975) A4]
For a yong man led on by selfe will. ‥Hee forseath not that such as clime hastely fall sodainely.
[1592 R. Greene Repentance in Works XII. 158]
But there are many daungers by the way, and hastie climers quicklie catch a fall.
[1605 Capt. Thomas Stukeley D1]
Hasty climbers haue sodaine falls. ‥Not if they sit fast.
[1616 N. Breton Crossing of Proverbs ii. A4]
Hints as to thriving. ‥Hasty climbers have sudden falls.
[1869 C. H. Spurgeon John Ploughman's Talk xix.]
The ambition to send spaceships to the red planet reminds me of the old saying: ‘Hasty climbers quickly catch a fall.’
[1987 Daily Telegraph 27 Apr. 12]
Related to: ambition
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
