Justice versus conscience

Never Judge A Book by Its Cover

Question
What is the meaning of “never judge a book by its cover”? — Kris, Mexico

Answer
The saying “never judge a book by its cover” or “don’t judge a book by its cover” means that you shouldn’t judge someone or something based only on what you see on the outside or only on what you perceive without knowing the full situation. It means that the outward appearance of something is not an indication of its value or worth.

It comes from the idea that you may see the cover of a book and decide it’s not a good book or it’s not worth reading without knowing anything else about it. It is used metaphorically when it is applied to other things such as a TV show, a person, a job, or a restaurant.

Here are some examples of how it is used:

Jim: Wow, you really want to go to a restaurant called ‘Plain Burger’?

Joe: Hey, never judge a book by its cover! They may have delicious burgers!

Shawn: Look at those scrawny kids on the other team. This game should be easy for us to win.

John: Don’t judge a book by its cover. They might be faster than us. We won’t know until we play.

I hope this helps.

The Britannica Dictionary   Ask the Editor