We’ve all done it, desired something based solely on its looks only to find out that “All that glitters is not gold.” The age old phrase tells us that first impressions, in many cases, can be deceptive. Wanting something simply for its outward appearance can result in misfortune and disappointment. Be wary of what the eyes want because the appearance of material things, marketing appeal and yes, even people, generally mask what the true reality is.
Many people use the common expression but have no idea where it originates or what it means. Records claim it was the French theologian, Alain de Lille, who said “Do not hold as gold all that shines like gold” in the 12th century. This phrase was changed to read “all that glisters is not gold” and used in William Shakespeare’s literary work The Merchant of Venice written in 1596. Variations have since been used in other writings such as: Tragic Tales by George Tuberville, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien and Don Quixote by Cervantes. With the evolution of the English language the quote has been modified to its present form, “All that glitters is not gold.” When we look at the quote we can surmise that, just because something looks and glitters like gold that it actually is gold. More simply put, not everything that is appealing is what it seems to be.
Objects that attract the eye may be mis-leading without knowing the true nature of the item. Something commonly seen, such as the Solanum xanti, or Purple Nightshade flower, is beautiful look at. The vibrant, deep purple and pearl white petals will draw you in. But be warned, this flower is poisonous. It causes painful burns and can be deadly to humans. It is a stunning flower which hides a dangerous secret. In comparison, a gold ring is only a gold ring if it is made entirely of gold; otherwise it is not what it appears to truly be. For example, imitation jewelry is made to look like gold to catch the eye of the person admiring it. Much of this jewelry is just a lower grade metal that has been given a golden color and polished to a shine to cover up any imperfections. The reality is that material things cannot be judged by appearance alone, but must be inspected further to be sure the object is what it has been claimed to be.
The Essay on Gullivers Travels And Appearance
Jonathan Swift satirizes the nature of human beings by making the role of physical appearance important. Jonathan Swift ridicules human nature by making an example of Lemuel Gulliver as a Big, small, and out of the ordinary person throughout Gullivers Travels. In Book I, Lemuel Gulliver ends up on the island of Lilliputia. There, he meets a population of small persons, where he is a giant amongst ...
Marketing campaigns create an attractive package to sell their wares, but the true worth of any product can only be judged by evaluating it yourself. A record company displays a compact disc with a colorful cover and claims there is a number one hit on it. It may look great on the shelf of the store, but what of the rest of the music? Is it worth the cost of the whole album? Never judge a book, or in this case a CD, by its cover. In one instance that happened to me a few years ago, there was an ad on the internet selling what looked to be hand-held video cameras wrapped in plastic wrap. After purchasing one, it was found to be nothing more than a block of wood and a soup can. Although it looked good in its package, I received nothing but a door stop and a full belly. This brings truth to the comparative adage that “If it looks too good to be true, it usually is”. This is as true with people as it is with material things and advertisements.
What a person may be is contained within that person and not the visage that is displayed to the world. A person appearing to be rich doesn’t necessarily mean that he is rich. A homeless man appearing wealthy and wearing a $2000 suit doesn’t make him a rich man, although he may look rich. Many people are out only for what benefits them and will dress and act a certain way to achieve their goal. If someone treats you kind, and seems to be your friend, it does not mean that they have your best interests at heart. Only by getting to know a person’s true self can we know if their intentions are sincere. Many people have wondered if love at first sight is real. Well, the complex answer is yes and no. Love at first sight is described by a physical, almost animalistic, attraction. This means that elements needed to make a relationship succeed are present. However, to really know if the relationship will work, one must get to know the other person. Even if she looks like your Cinderella, there may not be anything that the two of you have in common. Deception may be hidden behind a beautiful face.
The Essay on The Great Depression Rich People
ESSAY ON THE DEPRESSION TOPIC "All classes and all age groups in Australia were equally affected by the Great depression." Do you agree? How did the Great Depression affect the lives of Australian's. In the depression many people were affected. But not all equally and not all in the same ways, different people experienced different things, and everyone would have been in different circumstances. ...
The truth of the matter is that one should be vigilant and not fall prey to accepting people or materialistic things at first appearance or face value. Only after an item has been found to be worthy can it be accepted for its appearance. As true as it was when uttered in the 12th century, “Do not hold as gold all that shines as gold,” it is today. Not only do I agree with the quote, but I have learned from it in my own experiences.
