Phaedrus Quotes

In short, not only are things not what they seem, they are not even what they are called!

Things are not always as they seem.

First appearance deceives many.

Things do not pass for what they are, but for what they seem. Most things are judged by their jackets.

It may be said with a degree of assurance that not everything that meets the eye is as it appears.

Belief and seeing: They are both often wrong.

You cannot judge a book by its contents.

There are some as are what they are. And there are some as aren't what they seem to be. And there are some as only seem to be what they seem to be.

Looks can be deceiving.

Image is what people perceive my life to be. It's nothing like the truth.

Great feelings will often take the aspect of error, and great faith the aspect of illusion.

How little do they see what really is, who frame their hasty judgment upon that which seems.

The great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.

Appearances frequently deceive us, and what at first sight carries with it the face of good proves to be a real evil, whilst an apparent evil oftentimes conceals an extraordinary good

Anyone who thinks my life is cupcakes is all wrong.

Everything isn't exactly what it seems from the outside.

Sometimes what we see, what's going on in front of us, isn't really what's happening.

The grass is always greener on the other side - until you get there and see it's AstroTurf. Symbols are never reality. Someone might have amassed material success and fame, but that doesn't mean they're happy. So, don't go judging a person's life by the cover.

Things are NEVER what they seem, Pa, I thought. I used to think they were, but I was wrong or stupid or blind or something. Old folks are forever complaining about their failing eyesight, but I think your vision gets better as you get older. Mine surely was.

We are led to believe a lie When we see not through the eye.

Did you ever think that maybe what you see isn't really what's true?

Nonsense, when earnest, is impressive, and sometimes takes you in. If you are in a hurry, you occasionally mistake it for sense.

He had a certain air of being a handsome man-which he was not; and a certain air of being a well-bred man-which he was not. It was mere swagger and challenge; but in this particular, as in many others, blustering assertion goes for proof, half over the world.

Appearances are not held to be a clue to the truth,' said his cousin. 'But we seem to have no other.

Most portraits are lies. People are rarely what they appear to be, especially in front of a camera. You might know me your entire lifetime and never reveal yourself to me. To interpret wrinkles as character is insult not insight.