APAD: The apparel oft proclaims the man

"The apparel oft proclaims the man" is a famous line from Shakespeare's Hamlet (Act 1, Scene 3), spoken by Polonius, who gives advice to his son, Laertes, before he travels.  

Meaning:
One's clothes reveal one's character, status, and personality to others, essentially "the clothes make the man," advising tasteful, quality dress over flashy, showy attire to project dignity and sense.

It also means people judge your character, status, and competence based on your attire; your clothing signals your personality and influences first impressions, projecting authority or carelessness.

Mark Twain also famously said : "Naked people have little or no influence on society" .

(added by 西岛:Right, naked people are only good for "skinny dipping" 嘻嘻哈哈)

- From online with editing
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While reading and laughing with 7G's APAD yesterday, I suddenly remembered the proverb of "the clothes make the man" ("vestis virum facit" in Latin, or 人靠衣装马靠鞍) in one of the books I'm reading (see pic below. Note: Luigi in the fiction book is the Pope).

People often say: Never judge a book by its cover.  But in real life, we judge people not only by their looks, but also by their clothing !!! 恨

Every coin has two sides. This proverb also explains why criminals can fool their victims by hiding under priest's vestments and police uniforms.

Humanity is truly complicated.  Sigh ...

Either way, it gives us something to chew for sure.

Have a nice Monday!

所有跟帖: 

衣着彰显人格,逛街体现格局。横批:购物无罪。 -JoyAnna.- 给 JoyAnna. 发送悄悄话 JoyAnna. 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 07:41:24

哈哈,消费有理!来来来,为推动人类经济发展做贡献~~(坦白:看到喜欢和质量好的衣物也会心动,然后再问自己:我真需要吗?) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 07:52:24

The apparel oft proclaims the man, yet our closets scream 4 -JoyAnna.- 给 JoyAnna. 发送悄悄话 JoyAnna. 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 07:59:34

HELP! LOL -JoyAnna.- 给 JoyAnna. 发送悄悄话 JoyAnna. 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 08:00:19

1 good thing: I'll have headache if stay in stores 4 long;-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 08:01:53

& I have only 2 small closets (shared w/ hubby) ~~~~ -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 08:03:14

Headache? Not me. I only get stronger the longer I shop. LOL -JoyAnna.- 给 JoyAnna. 发送悄悄话 JoyAnna. 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 08:05:58

Hell yes, cloth distinguishes man from other animals -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 09:31:25

Hell No, what happened to birthday suits (& 赤诚相见)?;-)) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 09:39:53

Therefore wardrobes help catching schizoids. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 09:45:33

Poor people, Amen! ~~ (going 2 Costco now 4 hotdog ;-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 10:00:37

Naked people have little or no influence on society:) -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 11:52:21

I agree with the APAD. Sales persons r mostly in shiny suits -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 11:56:17

嗯!Same wrt Realtors: shiny suits + shiny cars ;-)) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 12:36:47

except some emperors. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 14:32:28

Hahahaha, I often cry out when seeing their new clothes. LOL -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 14:51:46

Still can’t stop laughing: the emperors must all float good -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 19:18:51

when skinny dipping in their new clothes;-))))) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 19:19:41

Hahaha, cannot stop laughing:) 皇帝的新衣:) -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 16:32:26

+100! It's exactly one Y ofAPAD: 2 have fun&laughter 2gether -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 16:43:32

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