Do not despise the bottom rungs in the ascent to greatness. Publilius Syrus
Gods prefer simple, vicious games, where you Do Not Achieve Transcendence but Go Straight To Oblivion; a key to the understanding of all religion is that a god's idea of amusement is Snakes and Ladders with greased rungs. Terry Pratchett
The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity. Ayn Rand
The world is not flat, and PCs are not, in the hierarchy of human needs, in the first five rungs. Bill Gates
There's this idea that at the lowest rungs of the social ladder in an African family is a childless woman - and the lowest rung of all is a motherless child. Ayobami Adebayo
Before you start up a ladder, count the rungs. Yiddish Proverb