--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men in general judge more from…" description: "\"Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/niccolo-machiavelli-368_appearance_men-in-general-judge-more-from-appearanc_1549243.jpg" --- # Men in general judge more from appearances than from… ![“Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/niccolo-machiavelli-368_appearance_men-in-general-judge-more-from-appearanc_1549243.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/niccolo-machiavelli-368_appearance_men-in-general-judge-more-from-appearanc_1549243.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5e/niccolo-machiavelli-368_appearance_men-in-general-judge-more-from-appearanc_1549243.jpg) > “Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.” [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often judge others based on looks rather than true character, lacking deep insight. **In simple terms:** Appearances mislead; true insight is rare. Key Takeaway Seek deeper understanding beyond surface. Themes perception judgment appearance Mood skeptical analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - job interviews - first dates - political debates - online profiles Key Concepts philosophy social psychology Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to look beyond appearances? - When is it appropriate to trust first impressions? A Different Perspective Superficial judgments can be useful shortcuts in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) [Appearances Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearances-reality-1993712/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-eyes-474110/) [Men General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-general-745810/) [Penetration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penetration/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-men-2858755/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“All men have eyes, Machiavelli says, but few have the gift of penetration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-bonanno/all-men-have-eyes-machiavelli-says-but-few-have-the-gift-of/) [Joseph Bonanno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-bonanno/) > [Conventionality is the tacit agreement to set appearances before reality, form before content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-key/conventionality-is-the-tacit-agreement-to-set-appearances-before/) [Ellen Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-key/) > [Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see but few can test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-in-general-judge-more-by-the-sense-of-sight-than-by-the-sense-of/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [We, all of us, are awakening to the reality that how men have behaved toward women for eons is not OK. The rules are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/we-all-of-us-are-awakening-to-the-reality-that-how-men-have-behaved/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [“For many men value appearances more than reality—thus they violate what’s right. Everyone’s prepared to sigh over some suffering man, though no sorrow really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/for-many-men-value-appearances-more-than-reality-thus-they-violate/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [You have two things happening: You have the cultural and economic reality of men falling apart and traditional masculinity falling apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-marche/you-have-two-things-happening-you-have-the-cultural-and-economic/) [Stephen Marche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-marche/) > [“Reality exists as appearances, and appearances are reality known to human beings. You cannot separate appearances from reality, and hold out the latter as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/reality-exists-as-appearances-and-appearances-are-reality-known-to/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [I'm absolutely convinced that this is a world of appearances, not reality. There's one reality and that's Light and Love. When some say, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/i-m-absolutely-convinced-that-this-is-a-world-of-appearances-not/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [When men are brought face to face with their opponents, forced to listen and learn and mend their ideas, they cease to be children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/when-men-are-brought-face-to-face-with-their-opponents-forced-to/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Appearances are not reality; but they often can be a convincing alternative to it. You can control appearances most of the time, but facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/appearances-are-not-reality-but-they-often-can-be-a-convincing/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [In reality, all men are sculptors, constantly chipping away the unwanted parts of their lives trying to create a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/in-reality-all-men-are-sculptors-constantly-chipping-away-the/) [Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/) > [Perhaps women have always been in closer contact with reality than men: it would seem to be the just recompense for being deprived of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/perhaps-women-have-always-been-in-closer-contact-with-reality-than/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [And part of growin’ up is learnin’ to see the world through other men’s eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-martin/and-part-of-growin-up-is-learnin-to-see-the-world-through-other-men-s/) [William Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-martin/) > [There is a glare about worldly success which is very apt to dazzle men's eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/there-is-a-glare-about-worldly-success-which-is-very-apt-to-dazzle/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [It's in the darkness of men's eyes that they get lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/it-s-in-the-darkness-of-men-s-eyes-that-they-get-lost/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) ## More by Niccolo Machiavelli > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-has-once-begun-to-live-by-rapine-always-finds-reasons-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-nothing-as-likely-to-succeed-as-what-the-enemy-believes-you/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-the-great-majority-of-mankind-are-satisfied-with-appearance-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-prince-is-highly-esteemed-who-conveys-this-impression-of-himself/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-studies-present-and-ancient-affairs-will-easily-see-how-in/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [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/) > [Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in-which-they-foresee/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-causes-another-to-become-powerful-ruins-himself-for-he-brings/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-never-finds-anything-perfectly-pure-and-exempt-from-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) [Explore all 590 Niccolo Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Appearance quotes > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [We must, however, note that what are usually called the high religions made their appearance within about twenty-five hundred years - most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/we-must-however-note-that-what-are-usually-called-the-high-religions/) [Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. 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. They'd never really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/every-man-would-fall-in-love-with-their-voice-their-lovely-appearance/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [I already know what things look like - I don't want description. People believe in appearances, and I don't believe in appearances at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-already-know-what-things-look-like-i-don-t-want-description-people/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) [Browse all 2,446 Appearance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. 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