--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That like I best that flies beyond my…" description: "\"“That like I best that flies beyond my reach. Set me to scale the high pyramids And thereon set the diadem of France; I'll either rend it with my nails..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/christopher-marlowe-3449_quote_that-like-i-best-that-flies-beyond-my-re_1363343.jpg" --- # That like I best that flies beyond my reach. Set me to… ![“That like I best that flies beyond my reach. Set me to scale the high pyramids And thereon set the diadem of France; I'll either rend it with my nails to nought, Or mount the top with my aspiring wings, Although my downfall be the deepest hell.” quote by Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/christopher-marlowe-3449_quote_that-like-i-best-that-flies-beyond-my-re_1363343.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/christopher-marlowe-3449_quote_that-like-i-best-that-flies-beyond-my-re_1363343.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/christopher-marlowe-3449_quote_that-like-i-best-that-flies-beyond-my-re_1363343.jpg) > ““That like I best that flies beyond my reach. Set me to scale the high pyramids And thereon set the diadem of France; I'll either rend it with my nails to nought, Or mount the top with my aspiring wings, Although my downfall be the deepest hell.”” [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition drives one to pursue impossible heights, risking ruin; the desire to conquer the unattainable can lead to self-destruction. **In simple terms:** Extreme ambition can cause downfall. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with humility. Themes ambition hubris risk human limits Mood cautionary thought‑provoking Type dramatic literary When to use this quote - career planning - personal goal setting - creative projects - risk assessment - ethical decision making Key Concepts tragic hero classical literature philosophical inquiry Questions to Reflect On - What limits should you set on your aspirations? - How do you recognize when ambition becomes self‑sabotage? A Different Perspective May glorify reckless pursuit over caution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Downfall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downfall/) [Downfall Deepest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downfall-deepest-4672134/) [High Pyramids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-pyramids-4672136/) [Pyramids Thereon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pyramids-thereon-4672135/) [Scale High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scale-high-2329727/) ## Related quotes > [Always Challange yourself, You will be able to scale high and high in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiw-shrivastava/always-challange-yourself-you-will-be-able-to-scale-high-and-high-in/) [Rajiw Shrivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiw-shrivastava/) > [Blitzscaling is what you do when you need to grow really, really quickly. It's the science and art of rapidly building out a company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/blitzscaling-is-what-you-do-when-you-need-to-grow-really-really/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [I’m overwhelmed. My biggest downfall is my brightest blessing, I feel too much, all the time. Ya Allah, if it’ll keep my heart soft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warsan-shire/i-m-overwhelmed-my-biggest-downfall-is-my-brightest-blessing-i-feel/) [Warsan Shire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warsan-shire/) > [“A company’s success can contribute to its financial and cultural downfall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-spradlin-lead-on-mission/a-company-s-success-can-contribute-to-its-financial-and-cultural/) [Becca Spradlin, Lead On Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-spradlin-lead-on-mission/) > [The downfall of civilized states tends to come not from the direct assaults of foes, but from internal decay combined with the consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-downfall-of-civilized-states-tends-to-come-not-from-the-direct/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [When under the influence of certain (or some) reasons (or causes) (alcohol, war, etc - added Spir here) the low instincts are unbridled (or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/when-under-the-influence-of-certain-or-some-reasons-or-causes-alcohol/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [Like Achilles, the hero who forgot his heel, or like Icarus who, flying close to the sun, forgot that his wings were made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-longenecker/like-achilles-the-hero-who-forgot-his-heel-or-like-icarus-who-flying/) [Dwight Longenecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-longenecker/) > [What I've learned is not to take anybody's advice. If you rely solely on your fans, it sets you up for the downfall on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/what-i-ve-learned-is-not-to-take-anybody-s-advice-if-you-rely-solely/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [I like food too much to go on some crazy diet. French fries are my favorite downfall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/i-like-food-too-much-to-go-on-some-crazy-diet-french-fries-are-my/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) > [For what am I to myself without You, but a guide to my own downfall?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-what-am-i-to-myself-without-you-but-a-guide-to-my-own-downfall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-most-foolish-mistake-we-could-possibly-make-would-be-to-permit/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Greetings, O Great Gazoo. How nice of you to join us here on planet Earth again. (Cael) Thanks, Barney. How’s Betty and Bam Bam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/greetings-o-great-gazoo-how-nice-of-you-to-join-us-here-on-planet/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I feel like the downfall of any person is the second an artist starts celebrating their work themselves, that becomes problematic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/questlove/i-feel-like-the-downfall-of-any-person-is-the-second-an-artist-starts/) [Questlove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/questlove/) > [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) > [This town will be the downfall of us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/this-town-will-be-the-downfall-of-us-all/) [A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/) ## More by Christopher Marlowe > [“O, thou art fairer than the evening air Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars; Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter When he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/o-thou-art-fairer-than-the-evening-air-clad-in-the-beauty-of-a/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“The mightiest kings have had their minions; Great Alexander loved Hephaestion, The conquering Hercules for Hylas wept; And for Patroclus, stern Achilles drooped. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/the-mightiest-kings-have-had-their-minions-great-alexander-loved/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“Till swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit, His waxen wings did mount above his reach, And melting heavens conspired his overthrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/till-swollen-with-cunning-of-a-self-conceit-his-waxen-wings-did-mount/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Ah fair Zenocrate, divine Zenocrate, Fair is too foul an epithet for thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/ah-fair-zenocrate-divine-zenocrate-fair-is-too-foul-an-epithet-for/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Accursed be he that first invented war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/accursed-be-he-that-first-invented-war/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [That perfect bliss and sole felicity, the sweet fruition of an earthly crown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/that-perfect-bliss-and-sole-felicity-the-sweet-fruition-of-an-earthly/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [If we say that we have no sin, We deceive ourselves, and there's no truth in us. Why then belike we must sin, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/if-we-say-that-we-have-no-sin-we-deceive-ourselves-and-there-s-no/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [O soul, be changed into little waterdrops, / And fall into the ocean, ne'er be found!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/o-soul-be-changed-into-little-waterdrops-and-fall-into-the-ocean-ne/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Above our life we love a steadfast friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/above-our-life-we-love-a-steadfast-friend/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“In summers heate and mid-time of the day To rest my limbes upon a bed I lay, One window shut, the other open stood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/in-summers-heate-and-mid-time-of-the-day-to-rest-my-limbes-upon-a-bed/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“The sight of London to my exiled eyes Is as Elysium to a new-come soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/the-sight-of-london-to-my-exiled-eyes-is-as-elysium-to-a-new-come-soul/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“Quod Me Nutrit Me Destruit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/quod-me-nutrit-me-destruit/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [What are kings, when regiment is gone, but perfect shadows in a sunshine day?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/what-are-kings-when-regiment-is-gone-but-perfect-shadows-in-a/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Time doth run with calm and silent foot, Shortening my days and thread of vital life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/time-doth-run-with-calm-and-silent-foot-shortening-my-days-and-thread/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [“Come live with me and be my Love, And we will all the pleasures prove”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/come-live-with-me-and-be-my-love-and-we-will-all-the-pleasures-prove-2/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) [Explore all 129 Christopher Marlowe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) ## More Downfall quotes > [This town will be the downfall of us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/this-town-will-be-the-downfall-of-us-all/) [A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/) > [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) > [I feel like the downfall of any person is the second an artist starts celebrating their work themselves, that becomes problematic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/questlove/i-feel-like-the-downfall-of-any-person-is-the-second-an-artist-starts/) [Questlove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/questlove/) > [Greetings, O Great Gazoo. How nice of you to join us here on planet Earth again. (Cael) Thanks, Barney. How’s Betty and Bam Bam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/greetings-o-great-gazoo-how-nice-of-you-to-join-us-here-on-planet/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-most-foolish-mistake-we-could-possibly-make-would-be-to-permit/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [For what am I to myself without You, but a guide to my own downfall?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-what-am-i-to-myself-without-you-but-a-guide-to-my-own-downfall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like food too much to go on some crazy diet. French fries are my favorite downfall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/i-like-food-too-much-to-go-on-some-crazy-diet-french-fries-are-my/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) > [What I've learned is not to take anybody's advice. If you rely solely on your fans, it sets you up for the downfall on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/what-i-ve-learned-is-not-to-take-anybody-s-advice-if-you-rely-solely/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [Like Achilles, the hero who forgot his heel, or like Icarus who, flying close to the sun, forgot that his wings were made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-longenecker/like-achilles-the-hero-who-forgot-his-heel-or-like-icarus-who-flying/) [Dwight Longenecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-longenecker/) > [When under the influence of certain (or some) reasons (or causes) (alcohol, war, etc - added Spir here) the low instincts are unbridled (or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/when-under-the-influence-of-certain-or-some-reasons-or-causes-alcohol/) [African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/) > [The downfall of civilized states tends to come not from the direct assaults of foes, but from internal decay combined with the consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-downfall-of-civilized-states-tends-to-come-not-from-the-direct/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [“A company’s success can contribute to its financial and cultural downfall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-spradlin-lead-on-mission/a-company-s-success-can-contribute-to-its-financial-and-cultural/) [Becca Spradlin, Lead On Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-spradlin-lead-on-mission/) > [I’m overwhelmed. My biggest downfall is my brightest blessing, I feel too much, all the time. Ya Allah, if it’ll keep my heart soft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warsan-shire/i-m-overwhelmed-my-biggest-downfall-is-my-brightest-blessing-i-feel/) [Warsan Shire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warsan-shire/) > [“Life can beat you down and at times make you feel unlovable it can distort your sense to the point where you don't recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aireen-c-pontillo/life-can-beat-you-down-and-at-times-make-you-feel-unlovable-it-can/) [Aireen C. Pontillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aireen-c-pontillo/) > [It is but little of the world yet that hath heard the lost estate of mankind and of a Savior, Christ Jesus; and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/it-is-but-little-of-the-world-yet-that-hath-heard-the-lost-estate-of/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) [Browse all 234 Downfall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downfall/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That like I best that flies beyond my reach. 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