You can't judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Appearances can be deceiving.
Origin: American newspapers of the early 19th century already warned against judging a book by its outside show, and on June 12, 1849, the Boston Daily Mail ran the headline "Don't Judge a Book by its Cover." By 1854 another paper called it an old proverb. George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss (1860) has the same thought, and today the saying is used far more about people than books.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: L'habit ne fait pas le moine (literally: The habit doesn't make the monk)
- Spanish: Las apariencias engañan (literally: Appearances deceive)
- Japanese: 人は見かけによらぬもの (Hito wa mikake ni yoranu mono) (literally: A person is not what they appear)
- German: Der Schein trügt (literally: Appearances deceive)
More proverbs about Human Nature
- Too many cooks spoil the broth — Too many people involved can ruin a project.
- Curiosity killed the cat — Being too inquisitive can lead to trouble.
- The apple doesn't fall far from the tree — Children often resemble their parents.
- Laughter is the best medicine — Humor and joy can help overcome difficulties.
- A watched pot never boils — Time seems to pass slowly when you are waiting.
- Beggars can't be choosers — When you need help, you accept what's offered.