False Appearances Quotes

• The two principles of truth, reason and senses, are not only both not genuine, but are engaged in mutual deception. The senses deceive reason through false appearances, and the senses are disturbed by passions, which produce false impressions.

  Blaise Pascal

  Passion, Two, Deception

  Blaise Pascal (1966). “Pascal Pensées”, Penguin Classics

  73 Copy quote

  Show source

• The discovery of truth is prevented more effectively, not by the false appearance things present and which mislead into error, not directly by weakness of the reasoning powers, but by preconceived opinion, by prejudice.

  Arthur Schopenhauer

  Science, Power, Errors

  "Counsels and Maxims". Book by Arthur Schopenhauer, Vol. 2, Ch. 1, § 17, 2007.

  73 Copy quote

  Show source

• What men call knowledge, is the reasoned acceptance of false appearances. Wisdom looks behind the veil and sees.

  Sri Aurobindo

  Wisdom, Acceptance, Men

  "Thoughts and Aphorisms". Book by Sri Aurobindo, 1913.

  57 Copy quote

  Show source

• Let us take a patriot, where we can meet him; and, that we may not flatter ourselves by false appearances, distinguish those marks which are certain, from those which may deceive; for a man may have the external appearance of a patriot, without the constituent qualities; as false coins have often lustre, though they want weight.

  Samuel Johnson

  Men, Quality, Coins

  Samuel Johnson (1810). “The works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: With An essay on his life and genius”, p.143

  61 Copy quote

  Show source

• False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

  William Shakespeare

  Memorable, Heart, Lady Macbeth

  'Macbeth' (1606) act 1, sc. 7, l. 82

  87 Copy quote

  Show source

• To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.

  William Shakespeare

  Inspirational, Graduation, Honesty

  'Hamlet' (1601) act 1, sc. 3, l. 58

  90 Copy quote

  Show source

• This above all; to thine own self be true.

  William Shakespeare

  Inspirational, Inspiring, Graduation

  'Hamlet' (1601) act 1, sc. 3, l. 58

  96 Copy quote

  Show source

• One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.

  William Shakespeare

  Smile, War, Hamlet And Ophelia

  'Hamlet' (1601) act 1, sc. 5, l. 105

  189 Copy quote

  Show source

• You’d be surprised at the things that look great on the outside but are dysfunctional on the inside. Be sure to function as good as you look

  T. D. Jakes

  Dysfunction, Looks, Appearance

  Twitter post from Nov 20, 2013

  289 Copy quote

  Show source

• Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.

  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

  Life, Happiness, Sad

  119 Copy quote

• Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.

  George Orwell

  Witty, Peace, Truth

  "Politics and the English Language" (1946)

  138 Copy quote

  Show source

• When people rely on surface appearances and false racial stereotypes, rather than in-depth knowledge of others at the level of the heart, mind and spirit, their ability to assess and understand people accurately is compromised.

  James A. Forbes

  Knowledge, Heart, Assessment

  "Why Blacks Know Race Is a Factor" by Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., www.huffingtonpost.com. August 4, 2011.

  57 Copy quote

  Show source

• There is none who does not lie hourly in the respect he pays to false appearance.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Respect, Truth, Lying

  Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.361, Penguin

  4 Copy quote

  Show source

• A mind that is charmed by false appearances refuses better things.
  [Lat., Acclinis falsis animus meliora recusat.]

  Horace

  Mind, Appearance, Animus

  8 Copy quote

• Truth has scarce done so much good in the world as the false appearances of it have done hurt.

  Francois de La Rochefoucauld

  Hurt, Truth, World

  4 Copy quote

• A man can smile and smile and be a villain.

  Aldous Huxley

  Smile, Men, Hamlet And Ophelia

  Aldous Huxley (1950). “The Collected Works of Aldous Huxley: Brave new world”

  32 Copy quote

  Show source

• The world needs you. It doesn't need you at a party having read a book about how to appear smart at parties - these books exist, and they're tempting - but resist falling into that trap. The world needs you at the party starting real conversations, saying, 'I don't know,' and being kind.

  Charlie Kaufman

  Real, Smart, Party

  "Screenwriters' Lecture: Charlie Kaufman". BAFTA Lecture, www.bafta.org. September 30, 2011.

  70 Copy quote

  Show source