--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A thing either is what it appears to be…" description: "\"A thing either is what it appears to be; or it is not, but yet appears to be; or it is, but does not appear to be; or it is not, and does not appear to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/epictetus-413_doe_a-thing-either-is-what-it-appears-to-be_1547443.jpg" --- # A thing either is what it appears to be; or it is not, but… ![“A thing either is what it appears to be; or it is not, but yet appears to be; or it is, but does not appear to be; or it is not, and does not appear to be.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/epictetus-413_doe_a-thing-either-is-what-it-appears-to-be_1547443.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/epictetus-413_doe_a-thing-either-is-what-it-appears-to-be_1547443.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/epictetus-413_doe_a-thing-either-is-what-it-appears-to-be_1547443.jpg) > “A thing either is what it appears to be; or it is not, but yet appears to be; or it is, but does not appear to be; or it is not, and does not appear to be.” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote explores four logical possibilities about reality and perception, highlighting how things may appear differently from what they truly are. **In simple terms:** It discusses how things can look true or false, and how appearances can be misleading. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about appearances. Themes philosophy logic perception Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - debates - critical thinking - self‑reflection Key Concepts epistemology ontology Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify what is real? - When have appearances misled you? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Realism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realism/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [A man may not always be what he appears to be, but what he appears to be is always a significant part of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-gaylin/a-man-may-not-always-be-what-he-appears-to-be-but-what-he-appears-to/) [Willard Gaylin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-gaylin/) > [“The matter does not appear to appear to me now as it appears to have appeared to me then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-jackson/the-matter-does-not-appear-to-appear-to-me-now-as-it-appears-to-have/) [Robert H. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-jackson/) > [Is it me?, or does everyone look at the random shiny thing that appears on the wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/is-it-me-or-does-everyone-look-at-the-random-shiny-thing-that-appears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A gentleman does not appear to know more or to be more than those with whom he is thrown into company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/a-gentleman-does-not-appear-to-know-more-or-to-be-more-than-those/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [As the old saw says well: every end does not appear together with its beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/as-the-old-saw-says-well-every-end-does-not-appear-together-with-its/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Indeed, what is there that does not appear marvelous when it comes to our knowledge for the first time? How many things, too, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/indeed-what-is-there-that-does-not-appear-marvelous-when-it-comes-to/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [“When you've never gotten love from someone, you dob't know what it might look like if it ever does appear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/when-you-ve-never-gotten-love-from-someone-you-dob-t-know-what-it/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Most of the time, your risk management works. With a systemic event such as the recent shocks following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-scholes/most-of-the-time-your-risk-management-works-with-a-systemic-event/) [Myron Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-scholes/) > [I don't like fantasy where a king snaps his fingers and suddenly a whole army appears and goes off to war - he's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/i-don-t-like-fantasy-where-a-king-snaps-his-fingers-and-suddenly-a/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [The Obama administration's attempted short-term fixes, even with unprecedented monetary easing by the Federal Reserve, produced average GDP growth of just 2.2% over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-hubbard/the-obama-administration-s-attempted-short-term-fixes-even-with/) [Glenn Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-hubbard/) > [One is always of his age and especially he who least appears so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/one-is-always-of-his-age-and-especially-he-who-least-appears-so/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [“It appears that you were meant to be mine only for a little while.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-sotto/it-appears-that-you-were-meant-to-be-mine-only-for-a-little-while/) [Samantha Sotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-sotto/) > [“Apparuit iam beatitudo vestra' That is, "Now your blessedness appears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/apparuit-iam-beatitudo-vestra-that-is-now-your-blessedness-appears/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [I won't divulge the details, but there's a way to call somebody's phone and have whatever number you want appear on the caller I.D.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/i-won-t-divulge-the-details-but-there-s-a-way-to-call-somebody-s/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [You know, as somebody who writes op-eds and appears on the television, I appreciate as well as anybody that... there is a limit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/you-know-as-somebody-who-writes-op-eds-and-appears-on-the-television/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-laugh-much-or-often-or-unrestrainedly/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-not-disturbed-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/you-know-yourself-what-you-are-worth-in-your-own-eyes-and-at-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/crows-pick-out-the-eyes-of-the-dead-when-the-dead-have-no-longer-need/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-a-man-casting-off-worn-out-garments-taketh-new-ones-so-the-dweller/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-it-is-not-death-or-pain-that-is-to-be-feared-but-the-fear-of-pain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-else-can-i-do-a-lame-old-man-but-sing-hymns-to-god-if-i-were-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them-2/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Small-minded people blame others. Average people blame themselves. The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## More Appears quotes > [You know, as somebody who writes op-eds and appears on the television, I appreciate as well as anybody that... there is a limit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/you-know-as-somebody-who-writes-op-eds-and-appears-on-the-television/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [A man may not always be what he appears to be, but what he appears to be is always a significant part of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-gaylin/a-man-may-not-always-be-what-he-appears-to-be-but-what-he-appears-to/) [Willard Gaylin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-gaylin/) > [I won't divulge the details, but there's a way to call somebody's phone and have whatever number you want appear on the caller I.D.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-malina/i-won-t-divulge-the-details-but-there-s-a-way-to-call-somebody-s/) [Joshua Malina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-malina/) > [“Apparuit iam beatitudo vestra' That is, "Now your blessedness appears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/apparuit-iam-beatitudo-vestra-that-is-now-your-blessedness-appears/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“It appears that you were meant to be mine only for a little while.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-sotto/it-appears-that-you-were-meant-to-be-mine-only-for-a-little-while/) [Samantha Sotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-sotto/) > [One is always of his age and especially he who least appears so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/one-is-always-of-his-age-and-especially-he-who-least-appears-so/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [The Obama administration's attempted short-term fixes, even with unprecedented monetary easing by the Federal Reserve, produced average GDP growth of just 2.2% over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-hubbard/the-obama-administration-s-attempted-short-term-fixes-even-with/) [Glenn Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-hubbard/) > [I don't like fantasy where a king snaps his fingers and suddenly a whole army appears and goes off to war - he's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/i-don-t-like-fantasy-where-a-king-snaps-his-fingers-and-suddenly-a/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [Most of the time, your risk management works. With a systemic event such as the recent shocks following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-scholes/most-of-the-time-your-risk-management-works-with-a-systemic-event/) [Myron Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-scholes/) > [What appears on the page comes out of your experience, and no-one is going to see it in quite the same way - so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/what-appears-on-the-page-comes-out-of-your-experience-and-no-one-is/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) > [The dream appears to be real. It does really seem we are here in this world; but this is not so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-dream-appears-to-be-real-it-does-really-seem-we-are-here-in-this/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The island of Hawaii appears to be developing a Florida climate: Hot and humid with thunderstorms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-island-of-hawaii-appears-to-be-developing-a-florida-climate-hot/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Are you facing a superheated furnace? What God wants is for you to look full in the face of Jesus. Get your focus off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/are-you-facing-a-superheated-furnace-what-god-wants-is-for-you-to/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) > [We have met on a solemn occasion, and in this crowded assembly there is one thing that appears important, that is, for every one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-hicks/we-have-met-on-a-solemn-occasion-and-in-this-crowded-assembly-there/) [Elias Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-hicks/) > [So many things for me are unfortunate in the commercialization of something that is special. It's like when Led Zeppelin appears in Cadillac commercials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carter/so-many-things-for-me-are-unfortunate-in-the-commercialization-of/) [Chris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carter/) Browse all 162 Appears quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A thing either is what it appears to be; or it is not, but yet appears to be; or it is, but does not appear to be; or it is not, and does not appear to be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/a-thing-either-is-what-it-appears-to-be-or-it-is-not-but-yet-appears/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appears" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/a-thing-either-is-what-it-appears-to-be-or-it-is-not-but-yet-appears/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/epictetus-413_doe_a-thing-either-is-what-it-appears-to-be_1547443.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/epictetus-413_doe_a-thing-either-is-what-it-appears-to-be_1547443.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/epictetus-413_doe_a-thing-either-is-what-it-appears-to-be_1547443.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A thing either is what it appears to be; or it is not, but yet appears to be; or it is, but does not appear…” — Epictetus", "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": "Epictetus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A thing either is what it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/a-thing-either-is-what-it-appears-to-be-or-it-is-not-but-yet-appears/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/a-thing-either-is-what-it-appears-to-be-or-it-is-not-but-yet-appears/#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 } } ] } ```