“All that glitters is not gold” warns us not to be dazzled by surfaces. The shiniest option is not always the most valuable one. Here is what the proverb means, its Shakespearean fame and older roots, examples, and a few sayings that share its healthy suspicion of appearances.
What Does “All That Glitters Is Not Gold” Mean?
The proverb means that something attractive or impressive on the outside is not necessarily valuable or genuine underneath. A glamorous job, a flashy car, a charming stranger — each may glitter without being gold. The saying advises you to look past the shine and judge a thing by its real worth rather than its surface appeal.
Origin of the Proverb
The phrase owes its fame to William Shakespeare, who used it in The Merchant of Venice in 1596. The Prince of Morocco, choosing the wrong casket, reads the line “All that glisters is not gold; often have you heard that told.” Shakespeare’s own words (“glisters,” an older form of “glitters”) tell us it was already a familiar proverb in his day. Indeed the idea is far older: the twelfth-century theologian Alain de Lille wrote “do not hold everything gold that shines like gold,” and Chaucer used a version around 1387. Over time “glisters” gave way to “glitters,” but the warning has never lost its shine.
Examples in a Sentence
- “The job paid well but made her miserable — all that glitters is not gold.”
- “That mansion looked perfect online, but the roof leaked. All that glitters is not gold.”
- “He seemed charming at first; all that glitters is not gold.”
Similar Proverbs
- Don’t judge a book by its cover — don’t rate worth by appearance alone.
- Appearances can be deceptive — what you see is not always what you get.
- Beauty is only skin deep — true value lies beneath the surface.
- The grass is always greener on the other side — what looks better from afar often isn’t.
For more sayings about wisdom and seeing clearly, see our wisdom proverbs and the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “all that glitters is not gold” mean?
It means that something attractive on the surface is not necessarily valuable or genuine underneath, so you should look past appearances to judge real worth.
Did Shakespeare write it?
Shakespeare made it famous in The Merchant of Venice (1596) as “all that glisters is not gold,” but the proverb was already well known, with versions dating back to the twelfth century.
Is it “glitters” or “glisters”?
The original word was “glisters,” an older form of “glitters.” Today “glitters” is almost universally used, and both mean the same thing.