Every person likes to have a handsome appearance. Parents also like their children to be handsome and attractive. There is nothing wrong in such a desire because it is only natural. However, the real handsome or beauty of a person lies not in his physical appearance but in his deeds. An outwardly handsome person easily attracts people with his beauty, but if he does not possess any qualities of head and heart, it will not be: long before his real character comes to light. Ultimately, people will judge him, not by his looks, but by his actions, his achievements and the role that he plays as a member of the society. Good actions have a beauty of their own which is of far higher and more permanent value than more physical beauty because beautiful deeds have a lasting value while physical
beauty is transitory and soon decays.
There is the story of a stag who once saw his reflection in the water. He praised his horns for their beauty but lamented that his legs were very ugly. Suddenly a pack of hounds appeared and, the stag started running. But, while his ugly legs took him far, his beautiful horns got him entangled with bushes and creepers in the forest. The hounds soon overtook him and tore him to pieces.
Helen, the queen of Troy, was one of the most beautiful women of the world, but, ultimately, she became the cause of the destruction of the Trojan kingdom. On the other hand, Socrates, the Greek philosopher, was not at all handsome. Yet everyone remembers and cherishes him for his noble teachings.
This proverb, therefore, cautions us that we should not allow ourselves to be deceived by outward beauty which may glitter but which is not gold. Instead, we should try to acquire noble qualities which will be reflected in our noble actions.
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