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 西島:Right, naked people are only good for "skinny dipping" 嘻嘻哈哈)

- From online with editing
--------------------------------------

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 人靠衣裝馬靠鞍) 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: 

衣著彰顯人格,逛街體現格局。橫批:購物無罪。 -JoyAnna.- 給 JoyAnna. 發送悄悄話 JoyAnna. 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 07:41:24

哈哈,消費有理!來來來,為推動人類經濟發展做貢獻~~(坦白:看到喜歡和質量好的衣物也會心動,然後再問自己:我真需要嗎?) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 07:52:24

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

HELP! LOL -JoyAnna.- 給 JoyAnna. 發送悄悄話 JoyAnna. 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 08:00:19

1 good thing: I'll have headache if stay in stores 4 long;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 08:01:53

& I have only 2 small closets (shared w/ hubby) ~~~~ -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 08:03:14

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

Hell yes, cloth distinguishes man from other animals -移花接木- 給 移花接木 發送悄悄話 移花接木 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 09:31:25

Hell No, what happened to birthday suits (& 赤誠相見)?;-)) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 09:39:53

Therefore wardrobes help catching schizoids. -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 09:45:33

Poor people, Amen! ~~ (going 2 Costco now 4 hotdog ;-) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 10:00:37

Naked people have little or no influence on society:) -暖冬cool夏- 給 暖冬cool夏 發送悄悄話 暖冬cool夏 的博客首頁 (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- 給 暖冬cool夏 發送悄悄話 暖冬cool夏 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 11:56:17

嗯!Same wrt Realtors: shiny suits + shiny cars ;-)) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 12:36:47

except some emperors. -7grizzly- 給 7grizzly 發送悄悄話 7grizzly 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 14:32:28

Hahahaha, I often cry out when seeing their new clothes. LOL -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 14:51:46

Still can’t stop laughing: the emperors must all float good -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 19:18:51

when skinny dipping in their new clothes;-))))) -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 19:19:41

Hahaha, cannot stop laughing:) 皇帝的新衣:) -暖冬cool夏- 給 暖冬cool夏 發送悄悄話 暖冬cool夏 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 16:32:26

+100! It's exactly one Y ofAPAD: 2 have fun&laughter 2gether -最西邊的島上- 給 最西邊的島上 發送悄悄話 最西邊的島上 的博客首頁 (0 bytes) () 12/15/2025 postreply 16:43:32

請您先登陸,再發跟帖!