used to suggest that individuals may conceal their true power, skills, or motives, acting in a seemingly harmless or innocent manner while keeping their true nature or abilities hidden
used to imply that cheating or cutting corners may lead to short-term gains, but in the long run, it is not a sustainable or effective strategy for achieving success
used to suggest that children and fools, who may lack social filters or awareness of consequences, are more likely to speak the truth without pretense or deceit
used to emphasize that honesty, integrity, and adherence to moral principles are essential for achieving and maintaining success, respect, and authority
used to suggest that widely held opinions or reputations are often based on some level of truth or accuracy, but it does not necessarily imply that negative opinions are always justified or deserved