聰明一世，糊塗一時

聪明一世，糊涂一时
cōngmingyīshì,hútuyīshí
(idiom) even the wisest can have a momentary lapse in judgment; every man has a fool in his sleeve

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 聰明 cōngming
  1. intelligent; clever; bright
  2. acute (of sight and hearing)
2 一世 yīshì
  1. generation
  2. period of 30 years
  3. one's whole lifetime
  4. lifelong
  5. age
  6. era
  7. times
  8. the whole world
  9. the First (of numbered European kings)
3 糊塗 hútu
  1. muddled
  2. silly
  3. confused
4 一時 yīshí
  1. a period of time
  2. a while
  3. for a short while
  4. temporary
  5. momentary
  6. at the same time