<P> The popular form of the expression is a derivative of a line in William Shakespeare 's play The Merchant of Venice , which employs the word `` glisters , '' a 17th - century synonym for `` glitters . '' The line comes from a secondary plot of the play , the puzzle of Portia 's boxes ( Act II - Scene VII - Prince of Morocco ) : </P>
<P> The popular form of the expression is a derivative of a line in William Shakespeare 's play The Merchant of Venice , which employs the word `` glisters , '' a 17th - century synonym for `` glitters . '' The line comes from a secondary plot of the play , the puzzle of Portia 's boxes ( Act II - Scene VII - Prince of Morocco ) : </P>
who says all that glitters is not gold in the merchant of venice
who says all that glitters is not gold in the merchant of venice
Prince of Morocco
Prince of Morocco