What does the saying all that glitter is not gold mean?

Answer 1

everything that is attractive on the out side may not be really valuable inside

Answer 2

The phrase 'All that glitters is not gold' (originally written as 'All that glisters is not gold') means that something shiny or pleasing to the eye may not in reality be what it seems. It could be explained as 'looks might be deceiving.'

This phrase was made famous in the Merchant of Venice, a play by William Shakespeare. In the play, the Prince of Morroco has to choose between three caskets as he is a suitor of Portia, a rich woman who is bound by her father's will to marry whoever chooses the correct one of the caskets. There is a gold casket, a silver casket and a lead casket. The Prince of Morocco chooses the gold one, thinking that he deserves Portia, but instead of finding a picture of Portia (if the suitor were to find a picture of Portia he would have won) he finds a skull. A long note is hidden inside the skull, and this note includes the sentence: "All that glisters is not gold." Shakespeare was probably trying to suggest by this that everything perceived as luxurious is not always so. It turns out that the right casket is the lead one.

Shakespeare didn't invent the phrase. It was already a popular saying.A well known saying meaning looks can be deceiving. It was popularized by William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, although it was already a popular saying before Shakespeare used it. It means both in the play and in general use, that something may look good on the outside and not be particularly good in reality; good appearances can be deceptive.

It was use in act II scene VII Portia's suitors are choosing from boxes of gold, silver, and lead in order to marry Portia, as was stated in her fathers will. Whoever chooses the correct box, which contains Portia's picture, will win her hand, if wrong they must leave and never pursue another woman for marriage. The Prince of Morocco chooses the gold one, thinking that he deserves Portia, but instead of finding a picture of Portia (if the suitor were to find a picture of Portia he would have won) he finds a skull. A long note is hidden inside the skull, and this note includes the following message

All that glisters is not gold;

Often have you heard that told:

Many a man his life hath sold

But my outside to behold:

Gilded tombs do worms enfold.

Had you been as wise as bold,

Young in limbs, in judgment old

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Fare you well, your suit is cold.

Logically the way the saying is phrased it should mean that everything glittery isn't gold, which is absurd because gold itself glitters and is gold. The logical statement is "Not all that glitters is gold".

The geological rock formation known as "Fool's Gold" is commonly mistaken for real Gold because it glitters too.

To me it means "just because it looks good, doesn't mean it's worth anything."

Iron pyrite, for example.

It's a famous proverb "All that glitters are not gold." In fact, pure gold has the intrinsic brightness which no other metals possess. In human life, there are peoples who excel in their spheres be it academic, sports, politics, acting and so on. The rests are average persons who sigh and envy at their success. These average persons can be classified as "non glittering other metals".

Answer 3

Merchant of Venice, Act II, Scene VII; "There is a written scroll. I'll read the writing. All that glisters is not gold; Means; 'things are not always as they seem', as well as 'appearances are deceiving' This is a love story. Portia's father has written this on a scroll to tell The Prince of Morocco that he doesn't understand love.

Answer 4

The proverb is 'all that glitters is not gold' and it means we should not buy or accept something just because it looks good.
This misquotation is from Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice, Act II Scene 7. The Prince of Morocco has attempted to choose the correct casket in order to win Portia's hand in marriage. He has chosen the golden one and finds inside this poem.

"All that glisters is not gold,

Often have you heard that told

Many a man his life hath sold

But my outside to behold:

Gilded tombs do worms infold.

Had you been as wise as bold,

Young in limbs, in judgment old,

Your answer had not been inscroll'd

Fare you well; your suit is cold."

Note, the word is "glisters" not "glitters".
Physical appearance has always been of great importance for human beings. For centuries, poets have written about beauty, musicians have sung about it and painters have portrayed beautiful features on canvas. However, people worry so much about physical appearance nowadays that sometimes it stops being our ally to become our greatest enemy. Our appearance is in many ways our presentation in front of others. The way we dress reveals our personality and taste. It is also something that makes us different, and variety makes humankind more interesting. Apart from this, most people agree that having self-esteem is related to being satisfied with the way we look. Therefore, by being pleased with one's image, it is easier to get by in life and, of course, to relate to other people. However, this is not always an advantage. It is, of course, a privilege to those who match with the parameters of beauty of the society they are part of, but what about the rest?
All that glitters is not gold Aesop. Also all that glisters. The merchant of Venice Shakespeare Act 2 Sc7. "All that glisters is not gold often have you heard that told many a man has his life hath sold but my outside to behold gilded tombs do worms enfold had you been as wise as bold young in limbs in judgement old your answer had not been inscrolled fare you well your suit is cold." Logically incorrect gold itself being the example, gold glisters and is gold. The logical statement is "Not all that glitters is gold." But then life is not always logical. Louis Friend anagram Iron Sulfide Fools Gold Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. Especially with people all that glisters is not gold.

Answer 5

The correct quotation is "All that glisters is not gold" and it comes from Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice. However "glisters" and "glitters" mean the same thing, so the meaning is the same: lots of things glitter, but they are not all gold. Just because you see something or hear about something that seems valuable and worthwhile does not mean that it really is valuable or worthwhile.

Answer 6

The saying is actually "all that glisters is not gold" and it means that just because something looks the business, doesn't mean it has any worth. (Think of a beater car that has a new paint job.)

Actually the word is "glitters", not "glisters."

Answer 7

In my opinion it means that not all that looks mesmerizing or beautiful meaning it has worth.

Answer 8

It means that you may not be the first to be fooled by something 'shiny'.

Answer 9

This certainly isn't an idiom. It means exactly what it says -- not everything that glitters is gold. It means that just because something looks fancy or expensive doesn't mean it is.