Original artwork, not a still
The Merchant of Venice • 1600
All that glisters is not gold; Often have you heard that told; Many a man his life hath sold But my outside to behold.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Appearances can glitter without being valuable, the verse warns. It says the phrase is one you've heard often, and that many have paid dearly for chasing a shiny exterior. The gold sparkle is the lure, and the lesson is to look deeper.
Context reviewed
