William Shakespeare contributed more phrases and sayings to the English language than any other individual - and most of them are still in daily use. Every week, in my blog,I will be writing about one of the 135 phrases that he coined.
ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD.
Meaning: A showy article may not necessarily be valuable.
Origin: The original form of this phrase was 'all that glisters is not gold'. The 'glitters' version of the phrase long ago superseded the original and is now almost universally used.
Shakespeare is the best-known writer to have expressed this idea. The original Shakespeare editions of The Merchant of Venice, 1596, have the line as 'all that glisters is not gold'. 'Glister' is usually replaced by 'glitter' in renditions of the play:
MOROCCO:
O hell! what have we here?
A carrion Death, within whose empty eye
There is a written scroll! I'll read the writing.
All that glitters 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,
Your answer had not been inscroll'd:
Fare you well; your suit is cold.
A VIDEO OF MERCHANT OF VENICE
MORE IN SABRINA'S LONDON DIARIES
- Harry Potter in London
- Fashion in London Part 2
-Dating in London: Part 3. How to Cause a Stir
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