I am Envy...I cannot read and therefore wish all books burned.
Christopher MarloweRead
Till swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit, His waxen wings did mount above his reach, And, melting, Heavens conspir'd his overthrow.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote warns against the dangers of hubris and overreaching ambition.
In this quote from Christopher Marlowe, the metaphor of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun with his waxen wings, serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of excessive pride and ambition. It suggests that being too confident in one's abilities may lead to downfall, as external forces or one's own limitations can conspire to bring about a tragic end.
Themes
HubrisAmbitionCautionPrideDownfall
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about the importance of humility.
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Ah fair Zenocrate, divine Zenocrate, Fair is too foul an epithet for thee.
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Jigging veins of rhyming mother wits.
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