The sense of a vessel is not in its shell but in the void?

Question

Hello

Does anyone know what this ancient saying mean:

the sense of a vessel is not in its shell but in the void.

Thank you for your help

Mar

Answer 1

I've never actually heard it before, but it sounds to me that in essence it's saying "a jar is only worth what you put inside it".  

This might mean that a building or house is defined by the people or family inside it, not the fabric of building itself, or that a person is defined by their soul and not their body.  You could apply it to all kinds of things.

Hope this helps.