What does the saying mean "all that glitters is not gold"?

Answer 1

It means that just because something appears pretty or appealing it doesn't necessary have any worth.

Things that sparkle are not all diamonds, things that glitter are not all pure gold.

Answer 2

All that glitters is not gold is a well-known saying.

The expression, in various forms, dates from at least as far as the 12th century. It might even go back as far as Aesop.

The popular form of the expression is a corruption of a line in William Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice. The line comes from the secondary plot, the puzzle of Portia's boxes:

All that glisters 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.

Note that Shakespeare used glisters rather than glitters.

Answer 3

There are people who are so greedy as to grab anything in the hope of it having value. The quote is a reminder that not everything that looks valuable is.

The best example is fools gold. It glitters like gold, but it also has specs in it that show that it is definitely not gold.

Take care,
Troy

Answer 4

Well the first time it was used was by gold miners, they would find lumps of what looks like Gold but is in fact Iron Pyrites (fools Gold), almost worthless. The saying is used today when expressing something that looks to be of value but is in fact worthless.

Answer 5

You, like so many, have totally missed the point. Christ was saying that NOT EVEN THE RICH, with all their power and resources can enter the Kingdom of God. It is totally impossible. It is impossible for either the poor or the rich can enter the Kingdom of God. That is why the disciples were so astonished and amazed and why they asked, then who could be saved? When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? And the disciples were astonished at his words. Only by the work of God can any be saved. What is impossible to men is only possible with God. You have totally missed the point and focussed upon riches. That reveals the inclination of your mind and heart and your love of mammon and the things of this world.

Answer 6

Bling is a good analogy for all that glitters is not gold. Cheap jewelry that looks the biz but on closer inspection you can see it is just worthless junk.

Answer 7

Just because it looks like gold does Not mean it is gold,there is such a thing as fools gold,so all that glitters.........

Answer 8

It means that just because something looks good/is attractive/sounds good, it may not necessarily be. For example, let's say you buy a brnad new $100,000 Mercedes, and tghen have nothing bu problems with it. It is expensive and attractive like gold, but it certainly doesn't shimmer, does it? Make sense?

Answer 9

referring to the sad mistake made by Martin Frobisher
in 1576 Martin Frobisher was declared bankrupt even tho he had made several succesful trips to discover and use the NorthWest Passage, on his Third and to be Final trip instead of returning with useful minerals and spices etc, he carried home a cargo of what he thought was glittering gold ore.. it turned out to be Iron Pyrites.. Fools Gold. and worthless.. Frobisher was ruined and had to give up exploring to become a soldier in order to live. .

Answer 10

Fool's Gold (iron pyrite) looks more golden than the real thing but is worthless. Many Gold prospectors were fooled by it so were repeatedly told that.
It is now used to mean, Looking good does not mean it IS good!