<P> "All that glitters is not gold" is a well - known saying, meaning that not everything that looks precious or true turns out to be so . This can be applied to the people, places, or things that promise to be more than they really are . </P> <P> While early expressions of the idea are known from at least the 12th century, the current saying is derived from a 16th century line by William Shakespeare . </P> <P> The expression, in various forms, originated in or before the 12th century and may date back to Æsop . The Latin is Non omne quod nitet aurum est . The French monk Alain de Lille wrote "Do not hold everything gold that shines like gold" in 1175 . </P>

Who said all that glitters is not gold