Describes a person who is so excessively arrogant and self-important that they disdain to interact with or seek out others, even influential ones, thereby missing opportunities.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the Eastern Han dynasty, there was a man from Pingyuan County named Ni Heng, courtesy name Zhengping. He was extremely talented and eloquent in his youth, but also highly arrogant and unyielding, often looking down on others and rarely socializing.
During the Xingping era, he took refuge in Jingzhou. In the early Jian'an era, he traveled to the capital, Xuchang.
When he first arrived in Yingchuan, a friend gave him the calling card of an important figure. Ni Heng kept it on him, but never bothered to visit the person, holding the card until its writing eventually faded and became indistinct.