ProverbMorality
English origin
English originA ragged colt may make a good horse.
Meaning: Unpromising beginnings don't determine a creature's potential; proper care and time can transform rough youth into valuable maturity.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese
French: Méchant poulain peut devenir bon cheval (literally: A ragged colt may make a good horse)
Spanish: De potro sarnoso buen caballo hermoso (literally: A scabby colt may make a good horse)
Japanese: 大器晩成 (Taiki bansei) (literally: A great vessel takes long to complete)
Chinese: 大器晚成 (Dà qì wǎn chéng) (literally: Great vessels take long to finish)
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