seek far and neglect what lies close at hand

seek far and neglect what lies close at hand

Shejin Qiuyuan is an idiom originated from Mencius · liloushang written by Mencius of Zou state in the Warring States period.

It means to give up the near and pursue the far. It means to do things in a roundabout way. It has a derogatory meaning.

Idiom usage

It has a derogatory meaning.

Examples

According to the biography of Zang Gong in the book of the later Han Dynasty, "those who give up the near and seek the far will work in vain; those who give up the far and seek the near will come to an end at ease. It can be seen that we are happy every day. There are such poets here, but they talk on paper every day. (Chapter 76 of a dream of Red Mansions by Cao Xueqin in Qing Dynasty)