Guān yú hǎi zhě nán wéi shuǐ.

觀於海者難為水。

Lit One [who has] seen the sea [is] hard [put] to care about rivers.

Fig Having seen the greater world, one is beyond caring about trifles. To a sophisticated person, there is nothing new under the sun.

Note [From Mencius (Méngzi: Jìn Xīn Shàng); cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 15; see also céng jīng cānghǎi above.]

Topics Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn EXPERIENCE Mencius PERSPECTIVE SOPHISTICATION