Appearances are often deceiving.

Listen, children of the ages, and mark the eternal counsel of Aesop, the teller of fables: “Appearances are often deceiving.” Within these few words lies a truth as ancient as the rivers and mountains: the world presents masks, and the eyes alone are insufficient to discern the nature of things. The surface, however polished or radiant, may conceal danger, weakness, or falsehood; the humble or unassuming may harbor great strength or virtue. The soul that judges by appearances alone walks blindly, yet the discerning heart pierces beyond the veil.

The origin of this teaching springs from the fables of Aesop, a storyteller of Greece whose tales transcended centuries. Through animals, kings, and common folk, he revealed the hidden realities behind outward forms: a fox may wear cunning in its eyes, a wolf may feign friendship, a humble tortoise may achieve victory over a boastful hare. These stories were not mere entertainment, but moral lessons, warning listeners that the world’s splendor may conceal peril, and that wisdom requires more than seeing—it demands perception.

Consider the tale of Christopher Columbus, who, setting sail into the unknown, faced lands that at first glance seemed barren and hostile. Yet beneath that outward harshness lay fertile grounds and civilizations unknown to Europe. To those who judged only by first impressions, the voyage appeared folly, yet the deeper truth revealed both promise and peril. Here we witness Aesop’s maxim: the truth often hides beneath the surface, awaiting those with patience and discernment.

Even in the affairs of men, this wisdom proves eternal. Think of generals who underestimated modest armies, merchants who dismissed quiet competitors, or rulers who judged by wealth rather than character. The external guise, whether opulent or meager, can mislead; victory belongs to those who see with insight, who read the hidden currents beneath the visible waves. The eyes are tools, but the mind and heart must discern what lies beneath.

History abounds with such lessons: Napoleon Bonaparte, famed for seeing opportunity where others saw danger, understood that the deceptive appearance of armies, terrain, or alliances often masks the deeper truth. Those who ignored such subtleties were undone, while he thrived by perceiving beyond the illusion. Here is the power of discerning wisdom: to know that appearance is but a veil, and to seek the reality it hides.

Therefore, children of future generations, let Aesop’s voice guide you: judge not by the glittering surface, for it may conceal decay; see with eyes of wisdom, hearts of courage, and minds attuned to subtle truths. In doing so, you arm yourselves against deception, and discover the hidden treasures that lie beneath the masks of the world. To perceive the unseen is to possess a wealth beyond gold, a strength beyond mere might.