The exact words
What the verse says
“Pride goes before a fall,” or “pride comes before a fall,” is one of the most common sayings in English, and most people know it comes from the Bible. The verse itself is slightly different. Proverbs 16:18, in the King James Version of 1611, reads: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Like many lines in the Book of Proverbs, it is built in two parallel halves that say nearly the same thing in different words, a pattern common in Hebrew poetry. Pride leads to destruction; a haughty, arrogant spirit leads to a fall. Everyday speech merged the halves into a single neat sentence, keeping “pride” from the first and “fall” from the second.
What it means
The warning is about what arrogance does to judgment. People who believe they cannot fail stop listening, stop preparing and take risks they would never take if they were humble. The next verse in Proverbs offers the alternative: “Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Humility, in the book’s view, is not weakness but wisdom.
The Book of Proverbs is a collection of short sayings about wise and foolish living. Jewish and Christian tradition credits much of it to King Solomon, famous for his wisdom, and several sections are headed “the proverbs of Solomon.” Scholars generally see the book as a collection gathered from many sources over several centuries.
How to use it
The saying is a natural warning for a team that is winning, a company that is growing fast, or anyone about to celebrate too early. Quoting the full verse gives it more weight. In writing, note that the popular version is a compression; it is accurate in spirit, but not word for word.
What people get wrong
“Pride goes before a fall” is a direct Bible quote.
The verse has two halves. Pride goes before destruction; a haughty spirit goes before a fall. The saying merges them.
Timeline
- c. 900–400 BCThe sayings collected in the Book of Proverbs take shape over several centuries. Tradition credits many of them to King Solomon.
- 1611The King James Version gives the wording “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
- Later centuriesThe verse is compressed in everyday speech into “pride goes before a fall” or “pride comes before a fall.”
Use it in a speech
Questions people ask
Is “pride goes before a fall” in the Bible?
Not word for word. Proverbs 16:18 in the King James Version says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
What does it mean?
Arrogance and overconfidence lead to ruin. People who think too highly of themselves stop being careful and end up failing.
Who wrote Proverbs?
Tradition credits much of the book to King Solomon. Scholars see it as a collection of sayings from many sources gathered over centuries.
Cite this quote
These cite the original source directly, so you can use them in an essay or paper. Always check your teacher's required style.