You can't judge a book by its cover

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Meaning

Don't assess someone or something based only on appearance, as true value or character lies beneath the surface, often surprising or contrary to first looks.

Origin

From 19th-century Britain, tied to books' plain bindings hiding rich tales; a 1860 novel uses it for a deceptive face. Earlier, a 1666 proverb warned of 'silk outside, sack within,' but the book form stuck, as in George Eliot's 1860 'Mill on the Floss. ' It reflects a Victorian push for moral depth amid growing literacy, growing into a timeless nudge against prejudice.

Variants

  • Book by its cover

Usage Examples

  • He looks rough, but you can't judge a book by its cover.
  • This old house proves you can't judge a book by its cover-it's stunning inside.
  • You can't judge a book by its cover; she's tougher than she seems.

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