--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's nothing wrong with enjoying…" description: "\"There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater,you realize th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/dave-barry-222_circus_there-s-nothing-wrong-with-enjoying-look_1979456.png" --- # There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface… ![“There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater,you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of…” quote by Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/dave-barry-222_circus_there-s-nothing-wrong-with-enjoying-look_1979456.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/dave-barry-222_circus_there-s-nothing-wrong-with-enjoying-look_1979456.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/157/dave-barry-222_circus_there-s-nothing-wrong-with-enjoying-look_1979456.png) > “There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater,you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.” [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Superficial focus blinds us to deeper truths; true understanding requires diving below appearances. **In simple terms:** Looking only at the surface hides the real meaning. Key Takeaway Seek depth, not just surface appeal. Themes perception depth understanding Mood reflective thoughtful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - education - relationships - creative work Key Concepts philosophy psychology metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What are you overlooking by staying superficial? - How can deeper exploration change your perspective? A Different Perspective Surface focus can be comforting but limits insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circus/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Staring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staring/) ## Related quotes > [Two-thirds of earth's surface is ocean, and all we can see with the naked eye is the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/two-thirds-of-earth-s-surface-is-ocean-and-all-we-can-see-with-the/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“In a world of seven billion people, where every inch of land has been mapped, much of it developed, and too much of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nestor/in-a-world-of-seven-billion-people-where-every-inch-of-land-has-been/) [James Nestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nestor/) > [We're not building a nuclear reactor here. We're not drilling a mile beneath the surface of the ocean with no plan in case something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gord-downie/we-re-not-building-a-nuclear-reactor-here-we-re-not-drilling-a-mile/) [Gord Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gord-downie/) > [“The real world is in a much darker and deeper place than this, and most of it is occupied by jellyfish and things. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-real-world-is-in-a-much-darker-and-deeper-place-than-this-and/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The circus tent was flowing pale in the rain like a fleshy flower lit from within. It seemed to bloom in the downpour. Drops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/the-circus-tent-was-flowing-pale-in-the-rain-like-a-fleshy-flower-lit/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [I went camping and borrowed a circus tent by mistake. I didn't notice until I got it set up. People complained because they couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-went-camping-and-borrowed-a-circus-tent-by-mistake-i-didn-t-notice/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I went to a tent store. "What kind of tent do you need?" "Circus."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-went-to-a-tent-store-what-kind-of-tent-do-you-need-circus/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I wish that the circuses that were around now felt like they did then. They're not quite as elegant or as magical as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-lawrence/i-wish-that-the-circuses-that-were-around-now-felt-like-they-did-then/) [Francis Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-lawrence/) > [The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/the-circus-arrives-without-warning-no-announcements-precede-it-it-is/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [I have no complaints about my path and the places it has taken me; enough complaints to fill a circus tent about other things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-have-no-complaints-about-my-path-and-the-places-it-has-taken-me/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I went to the circus, and loafed around the back side till the watchman went by, and then dived in under the tent. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-went-to-the-circus-and-loafed-around-the-back-side-till-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [But the soul of touring and the heart of it is basically every day is like putting up a circus tent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-benatar/but-the-soul-of-touring-and-the-heart-of-it-is-basically-every-day-is/) [Pat Benatar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-benatar/) > [We're wild horses. We're going to eat your food, knock down your tent and poop on your shoes. We're protected by federal law, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/we-re-wild-horses-we-re-going-to-eat-your-food-knock-down-your-tent/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Harry is heavily into camping, and every year in the late fall, he makes us all go to Assateague, which is an island on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/harry-is-heavily-into-camping-and-every-year-in-the-late-fall-he/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/it-always-rains-on-tents-rainstorms-will-travel-thousands-of-miles/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## More by Dave Barry > [This is true; virtually all edible substances, and many automotive products, are now marketed as being low-fat or fat-free. Americans are obsessed with fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-is-true-virtually-all-edible-substances-and-many-automotive/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The hardest thing about being a guy is that women don't accept that you really are just a simple, pathetic, labrador retriever-like creature. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-hardest-thing-about-being-a-guy-is-that-women-don-t-accept-that/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The ultimate camping trip was the Lewis and Clark expedition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-ultimate-camping-trip-was-the-lewis-and-clark-expedition/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/although-golf-was-originally-restricted-to-wealthy-overweight/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Entire new continent can emerge from the ocean in the time it takes for a Web page to show up on your screen. Contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/entire-new-continent-can-emerge-from-the-ocean-in-the-time-it-takes/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [He was distracted by a giggle, and turned to see a rare sight: a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/he-was-distracted-by-a-giggle-and-turned-to-see-a-rare-sight-a-girl/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The major parties could conduct live human sacrifices on their podiums during prime time, and I doubt that anybody would notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-major-parties-could-conduct-live-human-sacrifices-on-their/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [If you look at any list of great modern writers such as Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, you'll notice two things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/if-you-look-at-any-list-of-great-modern-writers-such-as-ernest/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Don't you wish you had a job like mine? All you have to do is think up a certain number of words! Plus, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/don-t-you-wish-you-had-a-job-like-mine-all-you-have-to-do-is-think-up/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“Despite the gulf, physical and cultural, between the United States and Japan, both societies are, in the end, made up of people, and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/despite-the-gulf-physical-and-cultural-between-the-united-states-and/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Before going on a diet you should consult your doctor, or at least send him some money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/before-going-on-a-diet-you-should-consult-your-doctor-or-at-least/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Never trust anything you read in a travel article.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/never-trust-anything-you-read-in-a-travel-article/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it "Christmas" and went to church; the Jews called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/in-the-old-days-it-was-not-called-the-holiday-season-the-christians/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Always remember that if editors were so damned smart, they would know how to dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/always-remember-that-if-editors-were-so-damned-smart-they-would-know/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) [Explore all 867 Dave Barry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## More Circus quotes > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [Blind with love, my daughter has cried nightly for horses, those long-necked marchers and churners that she has mastered, any and all, reigning them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/blind-with-love-my-daughter-has-cried-nightly-for-horses-those-long/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [In Roslyn, Pennsylvania, we started our real-life family circus. They provided the inspiration for my cartoons. I provided the perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bil-keane/in-roslyn-pennsylvania-we-started-our-real-life-family-circus-they/) [Bil Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bil-keane/) > [Circus clown. That's a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/circus-clown-that-s-a-new-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Funerals and weddings were commonplace, and nothing could have been so interesting to them as the coming of the end of the world ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-eggleston/funerals-and-weddings-were-commonplace-and-nothing-could-have-been-so/) [Edward Eggleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-eggleston/) > [They are enthusiasts, devotees. Addicts. Something about the circus stirs their souls, and they ache for it when it is absent. They seek each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/they-are-enthusiasts-devotees-addicts-something-about-the-circus/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [When I was 18 I worked with the Ringling Brothers circus, taking care of menagerie animals. I used to rather deliberately risk my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hoagland/when-i-was-18-i-worked-with-the-ringling-brothers-circus-taking-care/) [Edward Hoagland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hoagland/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Writing is for men who can think and feel, not mindless sensation seekers out of nightclubs and bars. But these are bad times. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/writing-is-for-men-who-can-think-and-feel-not-mindless-sensation/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [“If i'm gonna be described as a clown for my actions, I might aswell be a whole circus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bee/if-i-m-gonna-be-described-as-a-clown-for-my-actions-i-might-aswell-be/) [Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bee/) > [I've had 79 to 80 years of show business. I started when I was 5 with a man called Tom Mix. I didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sidney/i-ve-had-79-to-80-years-of-show-business-i-started-when-i-was-5-with/) George Sidney > [When I'm on stage, it's really intense. 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