Tower of Babel / Human Pride
Human ambition reaches beyond its bounds, and the divine humbles those who exalt themselves to the heavens.
Genesis 11:4-8
“Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves.' And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower... And the LORD said, 'Come, let us go down and confuse their language.'”
Proverbs 16:18
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Quran 28:76-81
“Indeed, Qarun was from the people of Moses, but he tyrannized them. And We gave him of treasures whose keys would burden a band of strong men... So We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. He had no company to aid him.”
Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda
“Ravana, lord of Lanka, whose ten heads symbolized his vast learning and power, was brought down by his own arrogance. Despite his devotion to Shiva, his pride in seizing Sita led to his destruction.”
Dhammapada 74
“'Let both laypersons and monastics think it was done by me. In every work, great and small, let them follow me' — such is the ambition of the fool; his desire and pride increase.”