An old dog will learn no tricks.

Meaning: Deeply ingrained habits and character resist change; established patterns persist regardless of effort.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Challenge

• It's ill healing an old sore. — Reopening past wounds—whether emotional or relational—creates fresh damage harder to reso…
• Pain is forgotten where gain follows. — Suffering endured becomes insignificant once its hardship yields profitable or valuable r…
• Great pain and little gain make a man soon weary. — Disproportionate effort against meager returns exhausts resolve faster than any physical…
• Pains are the wages of ill-pleasures. — Suffering naturally follows from indulgences that ignore consequences or moral bounds.
• On painting and fighting look aloof off. — Maintaining distance reveals flaws invisible up close; premature judgment spoils both art…
• Sleep on it; the pillow is the best counsellor. — Delaying decisions allows subconscious processing to clarify confusion that waking worry…

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…