All That Glitters Is Not Gold : Essays/Articles in English Language for Students Exams.
Appearances are mostly deceptive: we should not be misguided by the outward appearances. Things gaudy in appearance dazzle us; but we should remember that many showy things are nothing but dross. Gold is a very useful and shining metal. It is precious for its intrinsic worth. It has got some medicinal virtues. Ornaments made of it never get rusted. Some other metals are by no means as precious as gold.
A gilt ornament has the same luster as gold. But it is found lacking in intrinsic worth. The world is full of snares, shows and delusions. The mind that cannot dive deep into facts is easily mislead. It cannot distinguish between truth and untruth, realities and vanities. Things are not what they seem. How many scoundrels pass off as saints, a thief may pass for an honest man, and a foe may be mistaken for a sincere friend.
So, we must be vigilant while buying goods and making friends. The proverb signifies that nothing should be judged merely by appearances. We must always carefully judge and examine a thing before accepting it and should not be deluded by its deceptive appearance. In our daily life, we come across evil-minded people who throw dust in the eyes of others by showing kind behavior and good manners, though in their heart of hearts they are lurking snakes in the grass.
