--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ambitious climb high and perilous…" description: "\"The ambitious climb high and perilous stairs, and never care how to come down; the desire of rising hath swallowed up their fear of a fall.\" — Thomas A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/thomas-adams-13989_ambitious_the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-st_547310.png" --- # The ambitious climb high and perilous stairs, and never… ![“The ambitious climb high and perilous stairs, and never care how to come down; the desire of rising hath swallowed up their fear of a fall.” quote by Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/thomas-adams-13989_ambitious_the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-st_547310.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/thomas-adams-13989_ambitious_the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-st_547310.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/thomas-adams-13989_ambitious_the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-st_547310.png) > “The ambitious climb high and perilous stairs, and never care how to come down; the desire of rising hath swallowed up their fear of a fall.” [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pursuing lofty goals can blind one to the risks of failure, leading to reckless ambition. **In simple terms:** Ambition can ignore danger. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with caution. Themes ambition risk fear Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical warning When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - mountaineering - political power Key Concepts overconfidence goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What risks do you overlook in your pursuits? - How can you stay grounded while aiming high? A Different Perspective Blind ambition can cause disaster; humility is essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [Not to climb the high places lonely, but to climb there all together, to rise en masse! This is the way!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/not-to-climb-the-high-places-lonely-but-to-climb-there-all-together/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Personally, I would rather climb in the high mountains. I have always abhorred the tremendous heat, the dirt-filled cracks, the ant-covered foul-smelling trees and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvon-chouinard/personally-i-would-rather-climb-in-the-high-mountains-i-have-always/) [Yvon Chouinard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvon-chouinard/) > [You can say that this is just what aerospace medicine is all about - to save the lives of the men who climb to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-caidin/you-can-say-that-this-is-just-what-aerospace-medicine-is-all-about-to/) [Martin Caidin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-caidin/) > [If we climb high enough, we will reach a height from which tragedy ceases to look tragic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/if-we-climb-high-enough-we-will-reach-a-height-from-which-tragedy/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [“It's time to climb off our high horses and step into the shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/it-s-time-to-climb-off-our-high-horses-and-step-into-the-shit/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [Don't try to climb up so high so that you won't fall so low..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-try-to-climb-up-so-high-so-that-you-won-t-fall-so-low/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Follow in the footsteps of your fathers' virtue! How could you hope to climb high unless your fathers' will climbs with you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/follow-in-the-footsteps-of-your-fathers-virtue-how-could-you-hope-to/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [You can climb too high for your own good. Linger too long at high altitudes and your hearing dulls and your eyesight dims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-can-climb-too-high-for-your-own-good-linger-too-long-at-high/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [You know what I'd really like to do the most right now? Climb up to the top of some high place like the pyramids.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/you-know-what-i-d-really-like-to-do-the-most-right-now-climb-up-to/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“climb high, sleep low”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-smith/climb-high-sleep-low/) [Roland Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-smith/) > [“Can you climb high enough to get above the clouds, look down on the rain from a place in the sun?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/can-you-climb-high-enough-to-get-above-the-clouds-look-down-on-the/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [When I was a kid I used to tell myself the moon was a silver gong and if I could climb high enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dos-passos/when-i-was-a-kid-i-used-to-tell-myself-the-moon-was-a-silver-gong-and/) [John Dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dos-passos/) > [“The ladder of success is there waiting for you... you just have to realize it and reach towards and climb as high as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noor-ahmad/the-ladder-of-success-is-there-waiting-for-you-you-just-have-to/) Noor Ahmad > [If we climb this high I swear we'll never die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-climb-this-high-i-swear-we-ll-never-die/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“ordinary people can never fall over the walls, because they never dare climb high enough to see what is beyond the walls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-traven/ordinary-people-can-never-fall-over-the-walls-because-they-never-dare/) [B. Traven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-traven/) ## More by Thomas Adams > [The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-bible-is-to-us-what-the-star-was-to-the-wise-men-but-if-we-spend/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Ever tell me of a humble heart where I see a stubborn knee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/ever-tell-me-of-a-humble-heart-where-i-see-a-stubborn-knee/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Conscience is God's deputy in the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/conscience-is-god-s-deputy-in-the-soul/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [The hypocrite, certainly, is a secret atheist; for if he did believe there was a God, he durst not be so bold as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-hypocrite-certainly-is-a-secret-atheist-for-if-he-did-believe/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [The covetous man pines in plenty, like Tantalus up to the chin in water, and yet thirsty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-covetous-man-pines-in-plenty-like-tantalus-up-to-the-chin-in/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Blessed be God, I not only begin praying when I kneel down, but I do not leave off praying when I rise up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/blessed-be-god-i-not-only-begin-praying-when-i-kneel-down-but-i-do/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [A man may be so bold of his predestination, that he forget his conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/a-man-may-be-so-bold-of-his-predestination-that-he-forget-his/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Even the tired horse, when he comes near home, mends pace: be good always, without weariness, but best at last; that the nearer thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/even-the-tired-horse-when-he-comes-near-home-mends-pace-be-good/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [The devil makes his Christmas-pie of lawyers' tongues and clerks' fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-devil-makes-his-christmas-pie-of-lawyers-tongues-and-clerks/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [If thou wilt fly from God, the devil will lend thee both spurs and a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/if-thou-wilt-fly-from-god-the-devil-will-lend-thee-both-spurs-and-a/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Better a holy discord than a profane concord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/better-a-holy-discord-than-a-profane-concord/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [There is no coming to heaven with dry eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/there-is-no-coming-to-heaven-with-dry-eyes/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [The covetous man is like a camel with a great hunch on his back; heaven's gate must be made Higher and broader, or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a-great-hunch-on-his-back/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Plan the town, if you like; but in doing it do not forget that you have got to spread the people. Make wider roads,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/plan-the-town-if-you-like-but-in-doing-it-do-not-forget-that-you-have/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/baptizing-them-in-the-name-of-the-father-of-the-son-and-of-the-holy/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) [Explore all 48 Thomas Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) ## More Ambitious quotes > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [“Getting rich is easy, staying rich is impressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-trip/getting-rich-is-easy-staying-rich-is-impressive/) [Don Trip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-trip/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) Chris Kirubi > [I am ambitious to do more than what has been offered me. I want to be the best in whatever career I choose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-chopra/i-am-ambitious-to-do-more-than-what-has-been-offered-me-i-want-to-be/) [Uday Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-chopra/) > [There are four varieties in society — the lovers, the ambitious, observers, and fools. The fools are the happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippolyte-taine/there-are-four-varieties-in-society-the-lovers-the-ambitious/) [Hippolyte Taine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippolyte-taine/) > [People who are ambitious - politicians who crave power - think that they're in control of it, but at some point, the movement that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/people-who-are-ambitious-politicians-who-crave-power-think-that-they/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [I'm not ambitious. Not a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-m-not-ambitious-not-a-bit/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Aggressive and hard-charging women violate unwritten rules about acceptable social conduct. Men are continually applauded for being ambitious and powerful and successful, but women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/aggressive-and-hard-charging-women-violate-unwritten-rules-about/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I understood early on that I was not the best-looking girl in the room. But I knew my advantage was a hard work ethic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-understood-early-on-that-i-was-not-the-best-looking-girl-in-the/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [It is ordained that to the ambitious, who derive no satisfaction from the gifts of life and the beauty of the world, life shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-ordained-that-to-the-ambitious-who-derive-no-satisfaction-from/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [If Reagan and John Paul II were linked by anything, it was a grand, ambitious, and generous idea of Western political civilization, one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/if-reagan-and-john-paul-ii-were-linked-by-anything-it-was-a-grand/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [To talk only about national security, national defense, means to be selfish, ambitious. It is discrimination, isolation. "It is just me. What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/to-talk-only-about-national-security-national-defense-means-to-be/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) [Browse all 1,269 Ambitious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ambitious climb high and perilous stairs, and never care how to come down; the desire of rising hath swallowed up their fear of a fall.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-stairs-and-never-care-how-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambitious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-stairs-and-never-care-how-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/thomas-adams-13989_ambitious_the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-st_547310.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/thomas-adams-13989_ambitious_the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-st_547310.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/thomas-adams-13989_ambitious_the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-st_547310.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The ambitious climb high and perilous stairs, and never care how to come down; the desire of rising hath…” — Thomas Adams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The ambitious climb high and perilous...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-stairs-and-never-care-how-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-stairs-and-never-care-how-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```