February 25th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Philosophum non facit barba."

 February 25th, 2023 Latin of the Day - "Philosophum non facit barba."

"Philosophum non facit barba."

"A beard does not make a philosopher." (Appearance does not make reality.)

I had learned this as a proverb of uncertain origin. I've seen it attributed to Plutarch (odd, since he wrote in Greek, not Latin) and Aulus Gellius (but could not track that down, even with the Internet). 

a.d. V Kalendas Martias anno A.U.C. MMDCCLXXVI