As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
William ShakespeareRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Appearances can be deceiving; true value lies beneath the surface.
This quote from Shakespeare reminds us that not everything that shines or looks attractive is valuable. Often, superficial appearances can mislead us, and we must look deeper to understand the true worth of people and things, as even the most beautiful exteriors can hide decay and emptiness underneath.
Themes
AppearancesDeceptionValueWorthSurface
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about honesty in relationships, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of looking beyond physical attributes.
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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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