You can't see the forest for the trees

Meaning: Being too focused on small details can prevent you from seeing the overall picture.

Origin: English proverb from the 16th century, first recorded by John Heywood in 1546.

Translations

• French: On ne voit pas la forêt à cause des arbres (literally: One doesn't see the forest because of the trees)
• Spanish: Los árboles no dejan ver el bosque (literally: The trees don't let you see the forest)
• Japanese: 木を見て森を見ず (Ki wo mite mori wo mizu) (literally: Seeing the trees but not the forest)

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