Why All that Glitters Is Not Gold
All that glitters is not gold means that we should be wary of appearances. Gold glitters but it does not follow from this that all sparkling things are real gold.
So, appearances can be deceptive. This phrase can also be taken in a metaphorical sense, where ‘gold’ stands for something truly good or truly valuable.
So, the phrase is a useful admonition to the effect that just because something seems exciting or enticing does not mean that it is truly valuable or truly god.
5 Reasons Why All that Glitters Is Not Gold
- People can be charming when they are trying to deceive: it can be easy to be bowled over by someone’s charm. But, just because somebody is being nice to us does not mean that they are telling the truth or that they have our best interests at heart.
- The idea of something ‘glittering’ in the phrase above evokes notions of material splendor and superficial beauty. However, we should not allow ourselves to be dazzled by material appearances. Rather, we should look into the heart of things and make informed judgements about them.
- It is crucial to stay rational and not to be overly swayed by material greed or other passions. What ‘glitters’ when it is considered by our senses may not be ‘gold’ when considered rationally. That is to say, things that are appealing to our material appetites may not be truly satisfying to our souls when we think about things rationally.
- Offers from salespeople: you may have heard the warning that if a salesperson makes you an offer that seems too good to be true, then that is most probably because the offer is too good to be true. So, if you are being offered a ‘great deal’ on a product or service, make sure to take a step back and think about things more critically: do we even want the product? Is it good quality? Are we signing up to something that will actually disadvantages us in the long run?
- False friends and partners: we may have a fun time with our friends, but if they lie about us or put us down behind our backs, then this is an example of something that seems exciting and glittering but is in fact harmful to us. The same goes with romantic partners – we may find someone attractive, but if they do not treat us well or respect us, then they are not worth having in our lives.
Conclusion
We should all stay critical of the opportunities presented to us, and ensure that we choose options of true value in all aspects of our life, from business to romantic partnerships.
