You cannot know wine by the barrel.

Meaning: Judging quality requires direct tasting, not trusting containers or external appearances.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Wisdom

Sow beans in the mud, they'll grow like wood. — Planting seeds in unpromising conditions—poor soil, hardship—produces unexpectedly sturdy…
Beans should blow before May doth go. — Beanflowers must bloom early in May or the crop will fail to mature before frost arrives.
Tis easy to find a staff to beat a dog. — Finding excuses to punish someone you already dislike requires no effort or genuine justi…
Where bees are there is honey. — Productive effort naturally yields rewards; seek out where activity and industry flourish.
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Trash and trumpery is the highway to beggary. — Frivolous spending on worthless goods inevitably leads to financial ruin and poverty.

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