Bù tiāo dànzi, bù zhī zhòng; bù zǒu cháng lù, bù zhī yuǎn.

不挑擔子不知重, 不走長路不知遠。

Lit [If one does] not carry a load [oneself, one will] not know how heavy [it is]; [if one does] not walk a long distance, [one will] not [truly] know how long [it is].

Fig One cannot truly understand things without having personally experienced them.

Note [See also bù dāng héshang above.]

Topics EXPERIENCE HARDSHIPS