Why do we say "Pride goes before a fall"?

Meaning:

If you allow yourself to become full of pride, eventually you will find yourself humbled.

Background:

Like many other popular expressions this one has its roots in the Book of Proverbs (in Hebrew, Mishlei), which is one of the books in the section of the Jewish canon known as the Ketuvim (Writings), and of the Wisdom section of the Christian Old Testament.

The sayings in Proverbs have traditionally been credited to King Solomon (who reigned from c. 970–931 BCE) but scholars believe the writings actually consist of seven collections of materials from a variety of periods all after Solomon's time. (Directly following Proverbs in both the Jewish and Christian canons are Kohelet/Ecclesiastes and Shir ha-Shirim/Song of Songs, which are also traditionally attributed to Solomon.)

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall," (Proverbs 16:18 New International Version) is one of the 33 sayings in Chapter 16 of Proverbs, many of which remind the reader that wisdom and modesty are to be preferred over pride and wealth. Others that have stood the test of time include:

• Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. (v.8)
• How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver. (v.16)
• Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. (v.19)
• Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (v.24)
• A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. (v.28)
• Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. (v.32)

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