Flower Quote by Murasaki Shikibu
“Who has told you that the fruit belies the flower? For the fruit you have not tasted, and the flower you know but by report.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Tale of Genji, 11th century Japan
Appearances can be deceptive; true nature lies beyond surface.
In simple terms: Looks can be misleading.
Key Takeaway
Look deeper.
Themes
perception
truth
appearance
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- first impressions
- relationship judgments
- art criticism
Key Concepts
Epistemology
literary symbolism
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we verify truth?
- What biases affect perception?
A Different Perspective
Relying solely on appearances may cause misjudgment.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
