Is it glitters or glisters in famous Shakespeare quote?

Question

"All that glisters is not gold." or "All that glitters is not gold."
--From The Merchant of Venice (II, vii)

Which one of the above is correct.

Some web sites say glitters and other says glisters.

glister is a verb and glitter is noun of glister.
Which one is correct.

Answer 1

Actually, it "is" glisters, if you want to keep with the original wording. Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (circa 1596) has the line as "all that glisters is not gold". "Glister" is now usually replaced by the more commonly used "glitter", which has the same meaning. His source for this line was either the 1553 quote by Thomas Becon, in The relikes of Rome, "All is not golde that glistereth." or the 12th Century French theologian Alain de Lille who wrote "Do not hold everything gold that shines like gold".

However, all that being said, it is, after all, such a commonly used substitution (glitter for glister) that I would be surprised to hear a modern production of Shakespeare's play that used anything other than "glitter."

Answer 2

Glitters.
Glisters sounds like a skin condition, like a combination of gristle and blisters.
Everyone knows what glitters means, so go with it. . . .

Answer 3

glitters

Answer 4

glistens not glitters, don't let anyone tell you different. it is one of the most badly qouted quotes ever!