Deceives Quote by Jean de la Bruyere
“All the worth of some people lies in their name; upon a closer inspection it dwindles to nothing, but from a distance it deceives us.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "Les Caractères", 1688
People’s reputations seem impressive from afar, but close inspection often reveals little substance.
In simple terms: Reputation looks impressive from a distance.
Key Takeaway
Judge character beyond surface.
Themes
perception
reputation
authenticity
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- networking
- leadership
- relationship building
Key Concepts
social psychology
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify someone's true character?
- When have you mistaken appearance for substance?
A Different Perspective
Surface impressions can be misleading; context matters.
![“The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is made up of very hard but very polished people. [Fr., La cour est comme un edifice bati de marbre; je veux dire qu'elle est composee d'hommes fort durs mais fort polis.]” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fcf/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_built_the-court-is-like-a-palace-built-of-marb_77288.jpg)
