But, this is not always true. For instance, if an employer wants to recruit an employee and hundreds of people apply, the employer will probably narrow the list down based on first impressions. In other words, the employer is judging them by their 'cover' to save time.
But when it comes to choosing friends, we have to choose carefully. Some people might be bad for us. If we choose them wrongly, the consequences are very serious - the wrong kinds of friends can create all kinds of trouble for us.
I think, rather than judging a book by its cover, we need to read the content of the book and base our judgments on what we see there.
Brian Tang Ho-yin, Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School
From the Editor
Thanks for the letter, Brian. Generally speaking it is not a good idea to judge a book by its cover but we would be very naive to think that first impressions do not count. When you meet new people they have already appraised you within the first three seconds of seeing you. People make these sorts of evaluations all the time. We can wish it is not so but that will not be the reality of life.
This is why it is so terribly important to be on time when you meet someone, to be well groomed, and to be dressed for the occasion. Make sure that your cover leads other people to want to read further.
Susan, Editor