On thin ice / Auf dünnem Eis

It’s sad to think this heron was struggling for food and had to come unusually close to find the thin ice on the frozen river.
“Civilization is like a thin layer of ice upon a deep ocean of chaos and darkness” (Werner Herzog).

But happy to see that thin ice can also be a good thing.
“If you're skating on thin ice, you might as well dance” (Anita Shreve).