当局者迷

Pronunciation: dāng jú zhě mí Literal meaning: Those involved are confused

Origin & Usage

The Old Book of Tang records a dispute over which recension of a classic should stand. Yuan Xingtan, who had done the work and been overruled, made the comparison to a game of chess: the player at the board (当局者) is lost (迷) in it, while the man watching from the side sees the position. The pairing 当局者迷，旁观者清 has been inseparable ever since. What it claims is not that outsiders are cleverer but that involvement itself costs you the view, which is why the phrase is used to justify asking someone uninvolved rather than someone better qualified.

Examples

English: "Those in charge often fail to see the bigger picture due to their close involvement."

Chinese: 当局者迷，外人却能看得更清楚。