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fandom_grammar2013-03-01 06:07 pm
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Say What? “All that glitters is not gold” and “love is blind”
In today’s Say What?, it’s all about perception. We’ll be taking a look at two very familiar sayings that talk about how we’re seen by those around us, with some assistance from the characters of Sherlock.
All that glitters is not gold
This sentiment was already old by the time that Shakespeare wrote the phrase (originally written as all that glisters is not gold, but glitter and glister mean the very same thing) in the form with which we’re most familiar. Aesop used the concept in his fables as far back as 600 BC. In the 12th century, Alain de Lille, a French theologian, admonished readers of Parabolae “Do not hold everything gold that shines like gold.” Chaucer, too, had a version in his poem The House of Fame (1380), when he said “Hyt is not al golde that glareth.” The list of authors and poets that have used this saying runs the gamut from Spenser to Cervantes
All that glitters is not gold refers to the fact that appearances can be deceiving. Not everything shiny or pleasing to the eye is valuable or good. Sure, maybe it looks like gold, but it could be iron pyrite (fool’s gold), which is not worth nearly as much. Similarly, a man or woman who is attractive may not be as nice once one gets to know the person inside.
Tolkien put a different spin on this idea in The Lord of the Rings. Aragorn—or Strider, as the four hobbits first know him—is the heir of kings, though he doesn’t look the part at all, wearing an old cloak and boots spattered with mud, and indeed, he quite alarms Frodo and the others at first. Later, both Gandalf and Bilbo use the phrase “all that is gold does not glitter” in connection with Aragorn, meaning that despite his ragged, frightening exterior, he is steady, dependable and true to the quest. As with the original, appearances can be deceiving, but now it’s the other way around.
Love is blind
This is another saying that comes down to us from Shakespeare’s pen, though the idea itself has been around for longer. Eros, the Greek god of Love (also known as Cupid to the Romans), was often depicted as blind or wearing a blindfold while shooting his arrows of love.
Shakespeare was very fond of this idea; he used it in more than one play. One example can be found in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, when Helena says:
Helena loves Demetrius, despite the way he insults her; she sees him as perfect. That is the heart of what is meant by love is blind. When one is in love, one cannot see any flaws—whether of personality or appearance—one’s beloved might have. This saying is often used when discussing seemingly mismatched couples, where one half of the couple is significantly less attractive or interesting than the other.
Aesop was right; appearances can be deceiving, whether we suspect evil to be lurking under a pretty wrapping or whether a less-than-stellar exterior hides a heart of gold. Another trite old saying is appropriate here, no matter which way we’re leaning: Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Sources:
Phrases.org here and here
The Free Dictionary
Everything2.com
English proverbs
All that glitters is not gold
This sentiment was already old by the time that Shakespeare wrote the phrase (originally written as all that glisters is not gold, but glitter and glister mean the very same thing) in the form with which we’re most familiar. Aesop used the concept in his fables as far back as 600 BC. In the 12th century, Alain de Lille, a French theologian, admonished readers of Parabolae “Do not hold everything gold that shines like gold.” Chaucer, too, had a version in his poem The House of Fame (1380), when he said “Hyt is not al golde that glareth.” The list of authors and poets that have used this saying runs the gamut from Spenser to Cervantes
All that glitters is not gold refers to the fact that appearances can be deceiving. Not everything shiny or pleasing to the eye is valuable or good. Sure, maybe it looks like gold, but it could be iron pyrite (fool’s gold), which is not worth nearly as much. Similarly, a man or woman who is attractive may not be as nice once one gets to know the person inside.
Tolkien put a different spin on this idea in The Lord of the Rings. Aragorn—or Strider, as the four hobbits first know him—is the heir of kings, though he doesn’t look the part at all, wearing an old cloak and boots spattered with mud, and indeed, he quite alarms Frodo and the others at first. Later, both Gandalf and Bilbo use the phrase “all that is gold does not glitter” in connection with Aragorn, meaning that despite his ragged, frightening exterior, he is steady, dependable and true to the quest. As with the original, appearances can be deceiving, but now it’s the other way around.
“Why assume that the thief is after the gold?” Sherlock asked, pacing excitedly around the room. “After all, all that glitters is not gold.”
John paused in picking up his laptop. “Do you know,” he said, “that may be the first time I’ve heard you use a truism literally?”
“What truism?” Sherlock was already poking at his phone. “Diamonds glitter.”
John rolled his eyes. “Right.”
Love is blind
This is another saying that comes down to us from Shakespeare’s pen, though the idea itself has been around for longer. Eros, the Greek god of Love (also known as Cupid to the Romans), was often depicted as blind or wearing a blindfold while shooting his arrows of love.
Shakespeare was very fond of this idea; he used it in more than one play. One example can be found in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, when Helena says:
Things base and vile, folding no quantity,
Love can transpose to form and dignity:
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;
And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind. (I, i, 234-235)
Helena loves Demetrius, despite the way he insults her; she sees him as perfect. That is the heart of what is meant by love is blind. When one is in love, one cannot see any flaws—whether of personality or appearance—one’s beloved might have. This saying is often used when discussing seemingly mismatched couples, where one half of the couple is significantly less attractive or interesting than the other.
“Mycroft, the situation is desperate,” Sherlock hissed into his phone. “They’re making … cow eyes at each other, and yet she’s in no way a match for him.”
“Dear brother,” Mycroft replied complacently, “as long as John enjoys her company, I do believe it’s no business of yours. As many people have said throughout history, love is blind.”
Sherlock blinked. “How unutterably stupid of them.”
Aesop was right; appearances can be deceiving, whether we suspect evil to be lurking under a pretty wrapping or whether a less-than-stellar exterior hides a heart of gold. Another trite old saying is appropriate here, no matter which way we’re leaning: Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Sources:
Phrases.org here and here
The Free Dictionary
Everything2.com
English proverbs