A leopard can't change its spots

Meaning: People can't fundamentally change their nature.

Origin: Biblical proverb from Jeremiah 13:23.

Translations

• French: Chassez le naturel, il revient au galop (literally: Chase away nature, it comes back galloping)
• Spanish: Genio y figura hasta la sepultura (literally: Character and form until the grave)
• Japanese: 三つ子の魂百まで (Mitsugo no tamashii hyaku made) (literally: The soul of a three-year-old lasts until a hundred)

More proverbs about Human Nature

• When the cat's away, the mice will play — People behave freely when authority is absent.
• A leopard never forgets — Certain offenses are never truly forgiven.
• Lightning never strikes twice — Rare events are unlikely to happen to the same person twice.
• To each their own — Everyone has their own preferences and choices.
• You can't teach an old dog new tricks — It's difficult to change established habits.
• Beauty and the beast — Opposites can coexist or attract.

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