Once upon a time in ancient Greece, there lived a brilliant craftsman named Daedalus. Captive on the island of Crete, he devised a way to escape for himself and his son Icarus. He crafted two sets of wings using wax and feathers. As they prepared to leave, Daedalus warned his son: “Fly the middle course, Icarus; do not soar too high, or the sun will melt the wax. Do not fly too low, or the sea will dampen the feathers.”
Excited and feeling invincible, Icarus flew higher and higher, ensnared by the euphoria of flight. Alas, the sun's heat melted the wax. The feathers fell one by one, leaving Icarus flailing mid-air before he plunged into the sea below. This tragic tale reminds us of the dangers of hubris and the virtue of moderation.
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