First appearance deceives many.
Hear me, children of wisdom, for the words of Ovid carry with them a truth as old as time itself: first appearance deceives many. How often have we been swayed by the surface of things, by the outward shining that masks the true nature beneath? The world, in its fleeting moments, often presents itself in dazzling hues, only for us to find, when we look deeper, that what appeared to be pure gold is, in truth, fool's gold. This is the treachery of illusion—that which lures the unwary into false hopes, and leads the wise astray if they are not vigilant.
Ovid, in his deep understanding of human nature, speaks of the folly that comes from judging too quickly. The first appearance is like the dawn, glorious yet fleeting, hiding the full breadth of the day. Just as the moon can be hidden by clouds, so too can the truth be veiled by a bright façade. Those who rely on first impressions walk upon shifting sands, ever vulnerable to the winds of deceit. Thus, it is in patience, in the deepening gaze, that we come to know the true nature of all things.
Consider the tale of Paris, the prince of Troy, who, with his eyes blinded by beauty, was led to make a choice that would lead to his downfall. He saw Helen, the queen of Sparta, and her beauty seemed to be the answer to all his desires. But in the rush of that first glance, he saw only what he wished to see—he did not see the weight of consequences that would follow. In his blind pursuit of what appeared to be a simple prize, he set into motion the fall of his kingdom, the death of his people, and the destruction of a city. First appearance deceives many, and even the noblest of hearts can be led astray by it.
The wise must, therefore, learn to look beyond the surface, for it is there that the truth resides. In the words of Solomon, who spoke of the need for understanding beyond mere appearance, we are reminded that wisdom is found in the deepening of thought, not in the initial rush to judgment. It is not enough to see with the eyes alone, for the eyes can be deceived. To truly know a thing, one must feel it with the heart, weigh it with the mind, and test it with time. First appearances are fleeting; the wisdom of ages lies in the patience to look beyond.
Let this truth be your guiding star: when you encounter something new, or when you are faced with a decision that seems easy, know that the first glance may hide what lies beneath. Trust not the shiny surface, but learn the art of delayed judgment. As the ancients say, nothing that is truly valuable comes without depth, and only those who can see beyond the veil of illusion will walk the path of true understanding. The first appearance may deceive, but the heart that seeks the truth will never be led astray.
VHnqo viet hoanq
Ovid’s words are a powerful reminder not to trust our initial judgments too much. How often do we make snap decisions about people or situations, only to find that our assumptions were way off? Is it possible that first impressions could be misleading even in professional settings where we are trying to assess someone's capabilities? How do we balance intuition with the need to take a more thoughtful, informed approach?
RCRonaldo Cristiano
It’s a little unsettling when you think about how often we trust first impressions, especially since they can be so inaccurate. In relationships, for example, we often assume we know someone’s character from just a few encounters. Do you think first impressions are a useful tool for understanding others, or should we challenge this habit and seek deeper interactions to get to know people truly?
NANguyen ngoc anh
I’ve always found it intriguing how first appearances can be so misleading. Sometimes, the people who seem the least approachable or the situations that seem most difficult turn out to be the most rewarding. How do we break free from the instinctive tendency to judge based on looks or initial feelings? Is it something we can train ourselves to overcome, or is it just part of human nature?
TTTrong Tin
This quote reminds me of how often we judge others too quickly. In the age of social media, it's almost second nature to form an opinion from someone’s profile picture or a snippet of their life. Do you think it’s possible to truly avoid this bias? How much should we rely on first impressions before we decide to invest in something or someone?
THTran Huy
I completely agree with Ovid here. It’s so easy to be deceived by first impressions, whether it’s about people, situations, or even products. Have you ever made a judgment about something or someone based solely on how they appeared, only to realize later that you were completely wrong? How can we train ourselves to look beyond the surface and dig deeper before making decisions or forming opinions?