Origin
The expression, in various forms, originated in or before the 12th-century. The original form of this phrase was ‘all that glisters is not gold’. The ‘glitters’ version long ago superseded the original and is now almost universally used.
Explanation
Shakespeare is the best-known writer to have expressed the idea that shiny things aren’t necessarily precious things.All that glitters is not gold is a well-known saying, meaning that not everything that looks precious or true turns out to be so. This can apply to people, places or things that promise to be more than they really are.
Outward appearance can be greatly misleading. Gold is a very valuable metal. It has an attractive glittering appearance too. But it does not mean that everything which glitters like gold should be precious. There are utterly valueless things that look like gold and taking them on their face values is unwise. On the contrary, some of the dull-looking things possess immense value. Their appearance is in no way proportionate to the great value they have. This is true of human beings as well. A person may be good-looking having an attractive character. But he may not possess any real ability or talent. He can even turn out to be unscrupulous too. A man must be judged on the basis of his abilities and not on his external appearance. Many of the truly good and great men are humble. Goodness and perfection do not go with gaudiness. Like shining glass pieces which dazzle and glitter like diamonds the appearance of men can be greatly misleading. Therefore, estimation and analysis of people on the basis of mere appearance is an unwise approach.
Examples
Sarah’s new cell phone looks great, but it doesn’t work at all. All that glitters is not gold.
A : My friend bought me a diamond ring in Chinatown, and it only cost him $100!
B : Well, all that glitters is not gold. You should get a jeweller to check it to make sure it is real.
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