A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.玫瑰花不管叫什么名字,还是同样香。
这句谚语的意思是任何事物的名称是无关紧要的,主要是看它的实质。同样,人的姓名以至外表也是不重要的,主要是看其本质。
这条谚语出自莎士比亚(Shakespeare)的著名悲剧《罗密欧与茱丽叶》(Romeo and Juliet),原句是:
What's in a name?That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
同样意思的谚语有:
A horse is neither better nor worse for his trappings.
相马不可凭马饰。
Clothes don't make the man.
人不可貌相。
类似意思的谚语还可参阅:Appearances are deceptive.及:The cowl does not make the monk.