who said all that glitters is not gold

Quick Scoop

The Famous Quote and Its Origin

The phrase "all that glitters is not gold" wasn't coined by just one person—it has a rich history spanning centuries. William Shakespeare is the most famous writer associated with this expression, using it in his play The Merchant of Venice in 1596, where he actually wrote "all that glisters is not gold". However, Shakespeare wasn't the originator; he was simply the most celebrated author to popularize a proverb that was already ancient by his time.

The saying means that not everything shiny and superficially attractive is actually valuable—appearances can be deceiving.

The Medieval Roots

Before Shakespeare ever put quill to parchment, this wisdom was already being shared across medieval Europe:

• 12th-13th Century Origins : The expression dates back at least to the 12th century, with the French monk Alain de Lille writing "Do not hold everything gold that shines like gold" in 1175

• Latin Version : The Romans had their own version: "Non omne quod nitet aurum est"

• Geoffrey Chaucer : The famous English poet used the phrase twice in his works during the 14th century, writing in The House of Fame (c. 1380): "Hit is not al gold, that glareth"

• John Lydgate : Around 1440, Chaucer's successor wrote in House of Princes : "Al is not gold that shyneth briht"

Shakespeare's Immortalization

In The Merchant of Venice , Shakespeare placed these words in the mouth of the Prince of Morocco during the famous casket-choosing scene. The character is faced with three caskets—gold, silver, and lead—and must choose the correct one to win Portia's hand in marriage. The gold casket contains a scroll with the warning "all that glisters is not gold," teaching the Prince that he's been deceived by outward appearances.

Interestingly, Shakespeare acknowledged the phrase was already well-known by following it with the line "Often have you heard that told".

Later Literary Appearances

After Shakespeare, other notable writers continued using the proverb:

• Thomas Gray (1716-71) concluded his poem "Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes" with the proverb, also choosing the more poetic "glisters" over "glitters"

• The "glitters" version eventually replaced the original "glisters" and is now universally used in modern English

Cultural Impact

The phrase has inspired everything from philosophical essays to pop culture references, including a possible influence on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , where the villain chooses a bejeweled golden cup thinking it's the Holy Grail, only to discover the real Grail is a simple carpenter's cup.

TL;DR : While William Shakespeare made "all that glitters is not gold" famous in The Merchant of Venice (1596), he didn't invent it—the proverb existed for centuries before him, with versions appearing in 12th-century Latin texts and works by Chaucer in the 1380s.

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