--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is because gold is rare that gilding…" description: "\"It is because gold is rare that gilding has been invented, which, without having its solidity, has all its brilliancy. Thus, to replace the kindness we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/francis-de-gaston-chevalier-de_appearance_it-is-because-gold-is-rare-that-gilding_2858857.jpg" --- # It is because gold is rare that gilding has been invented… ![“It is because gold is rare that gilding has been invented, which, without having its solidity, has all its brilliancy. Thus, to replace the kindness we lack, we have devised politeness which has all its appearance.” quote by Francis de Gaston, Chevalier de Levis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/francis-de-gaston-chevalier-de_appearance_it-is-because-gold-is-rare-that-gilding_2858857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/francis-de-gaston-chevalier-de_appearance_it-is-because-gold-is-rare-that-gilding_2858857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/francis-de-gaston-chevalier-de_appearance_it-is-because-gold-is-rare-that-gilding_2858857.jpg) > “It is because gold is rare that gilding has been invented, which, without having its solidity, has all its brilliancy. Thus, to replace the kindness we lack, we have devised politeness which has all its appearance.” [Francis de Gaston, Chevalier de Levis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-de-gaston-chevalier-de-levis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Superficial politeness masks a lack of genuine kindness; appearances cannot replace true virtue. **In simple terms:** Politeness without kindness is hollow. Key Takeaway Prioritize authentic kindness over mere appearances. Themes authenticity virtue social conduct Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - Everyday interactions - customer service - political discourse - personal relationships Key Concepts moral philosophy social etiquette ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - Can politeness ever be a true expression of kindness? - When is it acceptable to prioritize appearance over substance? A Different Perspective Politeness may be necessary in some contexts despite lacking sincerity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Politeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politeness/) [Solidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solidity/) ## Related quotes > [Life is a pill which none of us can bear to swallow without gilding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/life-is-a-pill-which-none-of-us-can-bear-to-swallow-without-gilding/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Cut the crap rather than gilding the lily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl/cut-the-crap-rather-than-gilding-the-lily/) Darryl > [Neither wisdom nor lilies require gilding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-masters/neither-wisdom-nor-lilies-require-gilding/) Dillon Masters > [“Varnish and gilding hide many stains.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/varnish-and-gilding-hide-many-stains/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [We should not touch our idols: their gilding will remain on our hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/we-should-not-touch-our-idols-their-gilding-will-remain-on-our-hands/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [I am a showman by profession... and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/i-am-a-showman-by-profession-and-all-the-gilding-shall-make-nothing/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [China needs a table-tennis-like solidity in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berti-vogts/china-needs-a-table-tennis-like-solidity-in-football/) [Berti Vogts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berti-vogts/) > [The earthquake, however, must be to every one a most impressive event: the earth, considered from our earliest childhood as the type of solidity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-earthquake-however-must-be-to-every-one-a-most-impressive-event/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [I know only that I was born and exist, and it seems to me that I have been carried along. I exist on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/i-know-only-that-i-was-born-and-exist-and-it-seems-to-me-that-i-have/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [The strongest thing that any human being has going is their own integrity and their own heart. 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Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. 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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. 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