Appearances are deceptive.外表是靠不住的。
句中deceptive表示“虚假的”、“容易使人上当”之义,相当于misleading。主要是指外表极其善良诚实的人,可能其内心是狡猾奸险的,意思是要世人深入去了解一个人,不要单看外表就妄下判断。
类似意思的谚语还有很多:
Never judge by appearance.
You cannot judge a tree by its bark.
Judge not a book by its cover.
以上三句都是“人不可以貌相”的意思,只是后两句是以“树”与“书”作比喻。
Things are seldom what they are seen.
外表与实际很少是一致的。(表里不一)
Beauty is but skin deep.
All that glitters is not gold.
Many a fine dish has nothing on it.
A fair face may hide a foul heart.
以上都是外表好看,实质不一定好,即“虚有其表”,正是中国明代刘基的《卖柑者言》中所说的“金玉其外,败絮其中”。
类似意思的谚语,还可参阅:The cowl does not make the monk.