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.
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.
False face must hide what the false heart doth know.
This above all; to thine own self be true.
To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.
One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
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.
A man can smile and smile and be a villain.
What men call knowledge, is the reasoned acceptance of false appearances. Wisdom looks behind the veil and sees.
A mind that is charmed by false appearances refuses better things. [Lat., Acclinis falsis animus meliora recusat.]
Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.
Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.
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
There is none who does not lie hourly in the respect he pays to false appearance.
Truth has scarce done so much good in the world as the false appearances of it have done hurt.
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.
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.
or simply:
