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About this quote

What does it mean?
This describes a person who has no substance beyond formal appearances and rituals.
In plain terms
A person with only outward looks and no real inner substance.
What can you take from it?
Style without substance lacks real value.

Where it applies

  • character criticism
  • political commentary

Putting it to work

  • assessing leaders
  • identifying hollow personas

Questions to consider

  • How do you measure a person's substance?

Another view

Sometimes formal roles require maintaining appearances.

More from William Ewart Gladstone

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