--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Appearances are but a glimpse of what is…" description: "\"Appearances are but a glimpse of what is hidden.\" — Anaxagoras" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/anaxagoras-26091_appearance_appearances-are-but-a-glimpse-of-what-is_1791584.png" --- # Appearances are but a glimpse of what is hidden. ![“Appearances are but a glimpse of what is hidden.” quote by Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/anaxagoras-26091_appearance_appearances-are-but-a-glimpse-of-what-is_1791584.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/anaxagoras-26091_appearance_appearances-are-but-a-glimpse-of-what-is_1791584.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/anaxagoras-26091_appearance_appearances-are-but-a-glimpse-of-what-is_1791584.png) > “Appearances are but a glimpse of what is hidden.” [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Surface appearances reveal only a small part of deeper reality. **In simple terms:** Looks are just a hint of hidden truth. Key Takeaway Seek deeper understanding beyond appearances. Themes philosophy perception reality Mood inquisitive philosophical Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - critical thinking - art analysis - scientific observation Key Concepts metaphysics epistemology Questions to Reflect On - What lies beyond what we see? - How can we verify hidden truths? A Different Perspective Appearances can be deceptive, leading to false conclusions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appearances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearances/) ## Related quotes > [Appearances are a glimpse of the unseen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/appearances-are-a-glimpse-of-the-unseen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Let’s watch out for the unpredictability and the wildcat jumps of contrarian people, whose sole interests are soaring targets at high-speed, at all costs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/let-s-watch-out-for-the-unpredictability-and-the-wildcat-jumps-of/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“Our lives are mere flashes of light in an infinitely empty universe. In 12 years of education the most important lesson I have learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-owen-mallary/our-lives-are-mere-flashes-of-light-in-an-infinitely-empty-universe/) [Dominic Owen Mallary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-owen-mallary/) > [I already know what things look like - I don't want description. People believe in appearances, and I don't believe in appearances at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-already-know-what-things-look-like-i-don-t-want-description-people/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) > [“Social media has infected the world with a sickening virus called vanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-elmore/social-media-has-infected-the-world-with-a-sickening-virus-called/) [Kellie Elmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-elmore/) > [Appearances are significant, and never more than in politics. You can always sway the crowd, provided you have a good story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/appearances-are-significant-and-never-more-than-in-politics-you-can/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Outward appearances mean everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/outward-appearances-mean-everything/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [There is no trusting appearances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/there-is-no-trusting-appearances/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [When you have achieved a state of calmness and readiness, then you are ready to know, ready to understand in a deep way the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsoknyi-rinpoche/when-you-have-achieved-a-state-of-calmness-and-readiness-then-you-are/) [Tsoknyi Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsoknyi-rinpoche/) > [If it shuffles like a zombie, stinks like a zombie, and moans like a zombie, make sure it isn't your mom, then shoot it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-cowles/if-it-shuffles-like-a-zombie-stinks-like-a-zombie-and-moans-like-a/) [Rock Cowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-cowles/) > [“The most important thing had always been what other people thought-appearances before herself or her family. And righteous about it. Time and again Matt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-most-important-thing-had-always-been-what-other-people-thought/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [The greatest weakness of all is the great fear of appearing weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-benigne-bossuel/the-greatest-weakness-of-all-is-the-great-fear-of-appearing-weak/) Jacques Benigne Bossuel > [“He "had developed a trick in college for speaking with authority. He believed that breaking his argument into numbers forced people to pay attention.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-had-developed-a-trick-in-college-for-speaking-with-authority-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will we regard human beings as human beings? Why do we discuss someone's appearance? And when we can't find faults in appearances, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saba-qamar/when-will-we-regard-human-beings-as-human-beings-why-do-we-discuss/) [Saba Qamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saba-qamar/) > [I always feel like I've been slightly misunderstood. As a woman, you get judged for appearances or things like that I don't really care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-always-feel-like-i-ve-been-slightly-misunderstood-as-a-woman-you/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) ## More by Anaxagoras > [“And since the portions of both the large and the small are equal in amount, in this way too all things would be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/and-since-the-portions-of-both-the-large-and-the-small-are-equal-in/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [The seed of everything is in everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/the-seed-of-everything-is-in-everything-else/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [Men would live exceedingly quiet if these two words, mine and thine, were taken away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/men-would-live-exceedingly-quiet-if-these-two-words-mine-and-thine/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [The Sun is a mass of fiery stone, a little larger than Greece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/the-sun-is-a-mass-of-fiery-stone-a-little-larger-than-greece/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [In everything, there is a share of everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/in-everything-there-is-a-share-of-everything/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [The descent to Hades is the same from every place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/the-descent-to-hades-is-the-same-from-every-place/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [The sun provides the moon with its brightness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/the-sun-provides-the-moon-with-its-brightness/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [Conclusions from observations are unreliable, only the mind can come nearer to to the truth. Thus, in some ways, philosophy is more important than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/conclusions-from-observations-are-unreliable-only-the-mind-can-come/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [There is no smallest among the small and no largest among the large, but always something still smaller and something still larger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/there-is-no-smallest-among-the-small-and-no-largest-among-the-large/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [Wrongly do the Greeks suppose that aught begins or ceases to be; for nothing comes into being or is destroyed; but all is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/wrongly-do-the-greeks-suppose-that-aught-begins-or-ceases-to-be-for/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [The forces of rotation caused red hot masses of stones to be torn away from the Earth and to be thrown into the ether,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/the-forces-of-rotation-caused-red-hot-masses-of-stones-to-be-torn/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [It is not I who have lost the Athenians, but the Athenians who have lost me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/it-is-not-i-who-have-lost-the-athenians-but-the-athenians-who-have/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [The Greeks are wrong to recognize coming into being and perishing; for nothing comes into being nor perishes, but is rather compounded or dissolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/the-greeks-are-wrong-to-recognize-coming-into-being-and-perishing-for/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [The purpose of life is the investigation of the Sun, the Moon, and the heavens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/the-purpose-of-life-is-the-investigation-of-the-sun-the-moon-and-the/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [And since the portions of the great and the small are equal in number, so too all things would be in everything. Nor is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/and-since-the-portions-of-the-great-and-the-small-are-equal-in-number/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) [Explore all 22 Anaxagoras quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) ## More Appearance quotes > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [We must, however, note that what are usually called the high religions made their appearance within about twenty-five hundred years - most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/we-must-however-note-that-what-are-usually-called-the-high-religions/) [Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [You can have a nice body, dress with the latest fashion. But if you don't have self-confidence sweetheart, forget about looking sexy, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/you-can-have-a-nice-body-dress-with-the-latest-fashion-but-if-you-don/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [So may the outward shows be least themselves; The world is still deceived with ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-may-the-outward-shows-be-least-themselves-the-world-is-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are one of many appearances of the thing called Life; we are not its perfect image, for it has no perfect image except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/we-are-one-of-many-appearances-of-the-thing-called-life-we-are-not/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I'm OK with my appearance. I have made my peace with it after a long and frankly exhausting battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-ok-with-my-appearance-i-have-made-my-peace-with-it-after-a-long/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Appearance records are pretty special. Mine means a lot to me, not only because I love stats, but because it shows that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/appearance-records-are-pretty-special-mine-means-a-lot-to-me-not-only/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [Every man would fall in love with their voice, their lovely appearance, but no man would ever get past that. They'd never really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/every-man-would-fall-in-love-with-their-voice-their-lovely-appearance/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [I already know what things look like - I don't want description. People believe in appearances, and I don't believe in appearances at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-already-know-what-things-look-like-i-don-t-want-description-people/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) Browse all 2,446 Appearance quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Appearances are but a glimpse of what is hidden.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anaxagoras" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/appearances-are-but-a-glimpse-of-what-is-hidden/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appearance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/appearances-are-but-a-glimpse-of-what-is-hidden/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/anaxagoras-26091_appearance_appearances-are-but-a-glimpse-of-what-is_1791584.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/anaxagoras-26091_appearance_appearances-are-but-a-glimpse-of-what-is_1791584.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/anaxagoras-26091_appearance_appearances-are-but-a-glimpse-of-what-is_1791584.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Appearances are but a glimpse of what is hidden.” — Anaxagoras", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anaxagoras", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Appearances are but a glimpse of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/appearances-are-but-a-glimpse-of-what-is-hidden/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/appearances-are-but-a-glimpse-of-what-is-hidden/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```