Here is an Italian proverb that has a few meanings or interpretations. What does “L’abito non fa il monaco” mean?
Italian Vocabulary
Let’s take a look at the individual words in Italian.
L’abito – the outfit
Fa – from the Italian verb fare for the third person which means to make
Monaco – monk
Literally the proverb translates to:
The outfit (clothes) do not make the monk
The Spanish equivalent is:
El hábito no hace al monje
The French equivalent is:
L’habit ne fait pas le moine
There are similar sayings in English such as the “clothes do not make the man” or “do not judge a book by its cover”. Or we can also say “a dress doesn’t make someone a lady”.
In other words we should not make a judgement about a man’s character, dignity, worth, intelligence, street smarts, kindness, etc. by how he looks or by the clothes that he wears. Or even a step further by the amount of money he has, his net worth, the size of his wallet, etc.
A Ponzi Scheme Example
Someone may look successful and wear expensive suits, ties, clothing, etc. but you do not know what is beneath the wardrobe. A great example would be Bernie Madoff, he stole millions in a Ponzi scheme from many clients. He always looked great in well-tailored suits. It was part of an act where he duped many people. He looked the part of a trust-worthy individual that was financially successful. It also helped that he had yachts and all other expensive toys.
We must be careful in judging others. We must not be quick and hasty in making assumptions about someone based on looks.
Men are particularly visual in nature. We assume if a woman is good-looking she must have a good heart. We also assume she would be a good spouse, girlfriend, etc. But very often, such is not the case. I have been guilty of this in the past myself.
Those that practice nudism that live in nudist colonies or communities take it to the other extreme. They remove all clothing so no judgements can be made based on attire.
The true character of someone’s heart and integrity can not be measured by their attire or outward appearance.
L’abito non fa monaco can also be used when someone turns out to be a fake or a phony or not what they appear to portray.
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