He who flies too high flies low — excessive ambition leads to failure. Those who aim beyond their means, overreach their position, or try to rise too quickly are brought down lower than where they started. Measured ambition outperforms reckless aspiration.
This proverb contains a paradox that is typically Sicilian: the highest flight ends in the lowest fall. It is not an argument against ambition but against hubris — the overreaching that goes beyond what one's foundations can support. Sicily knew many such stories: the peasant who borrowed to buy land and lost everything when the harvest failed, the local politician who reached for national power and was destroyed, the fisherman who pushed his boat too far out and was swallowed by the sea. The myth of Icarus was perhaps known to Greek Sicily directly; certainly the lesson was learned from experience independently. The proverb was used to caution against greed and recklessness while allowing honest ambition: know how high your wings can carry you, and fly to that height well.
A Sicilian proverb against hubris and overreach, with echoes of the Icarus myth from Greek Sicily. 'Cu troppu vola' = chi vola troppo in alto. Widely collected in Pitrè's folklore archives.
A father warning his son about a risky business venture
— Voglio aprire tre negozi in un anno. — Cu troppu vola bassa vola. Aprine uno, fallo bene, poi pensiamo al secondo.
— I want to open three shops in one year. — He who flies too high flies low. Open one, do it well, then we will think about the second.
After a business failure due to over-expansion
Ha aperto sette ristoranti in due anni. Cu troppu vola bassa vola — adesso ne ha zero e ha i debiti.
He opened seven restaurants in two years. He who flies too high flies low — now he has zero and he has debts.
Counselling a young politician who is overreaching
Sei al primo mandato e già vuoi candidarti al Parlamento. Cu troppu vola bassa vola — fai bene il sindaco prima.
You are in your first term and already want to run for Parliament. He who flies too high flies low — be a good mayor first.
A student who took on too many exams at once
Ho sostenuto sette esami in un mese. Ho passato solo due. Cu troppu vola bassa vola — il prossimo semestre vado più piano.
I took seven exams in one month. I passed only two. He who flies too high flies low — next semester I will go more slowly.