all that glistens is not gold

all that glistens is not gold

Things that have an outward appeal are often not as beautiful or valuable as they seem. I don't know if that necklace from the flea market will have the resale value you're anticipating. All that glistens is not gold, you know. A: "I want to grow up to be a movie star, then I won't have a care in the world!" B: "Just remember that all that glistens is not gold. The pressures of fame can be difficult."

See also: all, glisten, gold, not, that

ˌall that ˌglitters/ˌglistens/ˌglisters is not ˈgold

(saying) not everything that seems good, attractive, etc. is actually good, etc: Don’t imagine that because they are rich, they are happy. All that glitters is not gold.

The verbs in this idiom all mean ‘shine brightly’.

See also: all, glisten, glitter, gold, not, that