The famous line “all that glitters is not gold” was written by William Shakespeare.

Origin of the phrase

  • The wording comes from Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice , Act 2, Scene 7, where it appears in an inscription on a golden casket.
  • The original line is slightly different: “All that glisters is not gold,” with “glisters” being an older form of “glitters.”

Earlier roots and later use

  • The idea behind the proverb is older than Shakespeare, appearing in earlier European writings that warn that appearances can be deceptive.
  • After Shakespeare used it, the phrase spread widely in English and is now a common proverb quoted in books, essays, and everyday speech.

Quick Scoop style notes

  • Who wrote “all that glitters is not gold”?
    • Short answer: Shakespeare, in The Merchant of Venice.
  • Why is it trending even today?
    • It is often used in online essays, motivational posts, and quote lists discussing how looks can mislead, which keeps it circulating in modern forums and social media.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.