--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Take nothing on its looks; take…" description: "\"Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There's no better rule.\" — Charles Dickens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/charles-dickens-34_evidence_take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everythin_1230726.jpg" --- # Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence… ![“Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There's no better rule.” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/charles-dickens-34_evidence_take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everythin_1230726.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/charles-dickens-34_evidence_take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everythin_1230726.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/charles-dickens-34_evidence_take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everythin_1230726.jpg) > “Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There's no better rule.” [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judge based on evidence, not appearances; truth over superficiality. **In simple terms:** Seek evidence, ignore looks. Key Takeaway Base decisions on facts. Themes critical thinking justice truth Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - legal judgments - hiring decisions - scientific research Key Concepts evidence perception logic Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would change your view? - How do you guard against deceptive appearances? A Different Perspective Evidence can be incomplete or biased. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-rule-1154283/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Evidence Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence-better-1385946/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Looks Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks-evidence-3805201/) [Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule/) [Supervision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supervision/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Those who deny human-caused climate change offer no compelling evidence to better explain the undeniable rise in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases and global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lowenthal/those-who-deny-human-caused-climate-change-offer-no-compelling/) [Alan Lowenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lowenthal/) > [As a child, one looks for compliments. As an adult, one looks for evidence of effectiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bradlee/as-a-child-one-looks-for-compliments-as-an-adult-one-looks-for/) [Ben Bradlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bradlee/) > [Better the rule of One, whom all obey, than to let clamorous demagogues betray our freedom with the kiss of anarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/better-the-rule-of-one-whom-all-obey-than-to-let-clamorous-demagogues/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Rebels learn the rules better than the rule-makers do. Rebels learn where the holes are, where the rules can best be breached. Become an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-kathryn-rusch/rebels-learn-the-rules-better-than-the-rule-makers-do-rebels-learn/) [Kristine Kathryn Rusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-kathryn-rusch/) > [“better to rule in hell than serve in heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-goodman/better-to-rule-in-hell-than-serve-in-heaven/) [David A. Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-goodman/) > [I try to write a certain amount each day, five days a week. A rule sometimes broken is better than no rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-wouk/i-try-to-write-a-certain-amount-each-day-five-days-a-week-a-rule/) [Herman Wouk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-wouk/) > [Andorrans deserve much better than the rule of superstitious hysterics and extreme authoritarians, who try to instill obedience to their Holy Texts and chosen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/andorrans-deserve-much-better-than-the-rule-of-superstitious/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I picked up one of the books and flipped through it. Don't get me wrong, I like reading. But some books should come with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-picked-up-one-of-the-books-and-flipped-through-it-don-t-get-me/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [RTE was set up by legislation as an instrument of public policy, and, as such is responsible to the government. The government have overall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-lemass/rte-was-set-up-by-legislation-as-an-instrument-of-public-policy-and/) [Sean Lemass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-lemass/) > [A convention was drawn up on June 17, 1925, in which the principle of supervision, as opposed to that of simple propaganda, was recognized,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-jouhaux/a-convention-was-drawn-up-on-june-17-1925-in-which-the-principle-of/) [Leon Jouhaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-jouhaux/) > [After an inferior man has been taught a doctrine of superiority he will remain as inferior as he was before his lesson. He will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/after-an-inferior-man-has-been-taught-a-doctrine-of-superiority-he/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [I think it's important to remember that music supervision is not just about a fantastic record collection or knowledge of music, although that certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-patsavas/i-think-it-s-important-to-remember-that-music-supervision-is-not-just/) [Alexandra Patsavas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-patsavas/) > [Kids should be taught about sex, sex hygiene and contraceptive methods starting in the sixth grade, and whenever they want to try it, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/kids-should-be-taught-about-sex-sex-hygiene-and-contraceptive-methods/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-believe-that-it-is-possible-for-one-to-praise-without-concern-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) ## More by Charles Dickens > [“All other swindlers upon earth are nothing to the self-swindlers, and with such pretences did I cheat myself. Surely a curious thing. That I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/all-other-swindlers-upon-earth-are-nothing-to-the-self-swindlers-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-can-be-no-disparity-in-marriage-like-unsuitability-of-mind-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [A new heart for a New Year, always!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-new-heart-for-a-new-year-always/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mrs-joe-was-a-very-clean-housekeeper-but-had-an-exquisite-art-of/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-seems-a-magic-in-the-very-name-of-christmas/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“evening, they began to think that although he could never hope to be an Englishman, still it would be hard to visit that affliction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/evening-they-began-to-think-that-although-he-could-never-hope-to-be/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Besides which, all that I could have said of the Story to any purpose, I had endeavoured to say in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/besides-which-all-that-i-could-have-said-of-the-story-to-any-purpose/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The wheels rolled on, and rolled down by the Monument, and by the Tower; and by the Docks; down by Ratcliffe, and by Rotherhithe;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-wheels-rolled-on-and-rolled-down-by-the-monument-and-by-the-tower/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The three customers pulled off their hats to Madame Defarge, with three flourishes. She acknowledged their homage by bending her head, and giving them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-three-customers-pulled-off-their-hats-to-madame-defarge-with/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“What a situation!' cried Miss Squeers; '...What is the reason that men fall in love with me, whether I like it or not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/what-a-situation-cried-miss-squeers-what-is-the-reason-that-men-fall/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Mr. Pickwick was a philosopher, but philosophers are only men in armour, after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mr-pickwick-was-a-philosopher-but-philosophers-are-only-men-in-armour/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) [Explore all 2,309 Charles Dickens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More Evidence quotes > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [“What you owe your critics are your RESULTS not explanations not defence just RESULTS.Evidence terminates Arguments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-durotoye/what-you-owe-your-critics-are-your-results-not-explanations-not/) [Fela Durotoye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-durotoye/) > [“Dogmatism compensates for evidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-wallace/dogmatism-compensates-for-evidence/) [Dana Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-wallace/) > [“Cops aren't really your friends, they are trying to be your friends but they are not… - They are searching evidence to PIN YOU.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/cops-aren-t-really-your-friends-they-are-trying-to-be-your-friends/) [Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/) > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Human unhappiness is evidence of our immortality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/human-unhappiness-is-evidence-of-our-immortality/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [The state is in danger of falling into disrepute due to the evidence of its inadequate resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurgen-habermas/the-state-is-in-danger-of-falling-into-disrepute-due-to-the-evidence/) [Jurgen Habermas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurgen-habermas/) > [You are innocent until proven guilty. And if folks have come forward, whether it is judge Roy Moore or whether it is anyone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/you-are-innocent-until-proven-guilty-and-if-folks-have-come-forward/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [There is still zero empirical evidence that anthropogenic production of CO2 is making any measurable contribution to the world's present warming trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-is-still-zero-empirical-evidence-that-anthropogenic-production/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [“‎If you regard evidence as a constraint and seek to free yourself, you sell yourself into the chains of your whims. For you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/if-you-regard-evidence-as-a-constraint-and-seek-to-free-yourself-you/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [ We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. \[This is\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shapiro/we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theory-has-been-accepted-as-fact/) [Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shapiro/) [Browse all 3,643 Evidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There's no better rule.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Dickens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everything-on-evidence-there-s-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Evidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everything-on-evidence-there-s-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/charles-dickens-34_evidence_take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everythin_1230726.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/charles-dickens-34_evidence_take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everythin_1230726.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/charles-dickens-34_evidence_take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everythin_1230726.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There's no better rule.” — Charles Dickens", "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": "Charles Dickens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Take nothing on its looks; take...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everything-on-evidence-there-s-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everything-on-evidence-there-s-no/#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 } } ] } ```