ProverbWisdom
Polish origin
Polish originI w Paryżu nie zrobią z owsa ryżu
Meaning: You can't make something good out of poor material.
Literally: Even in Paris they can't make rice out of oats
Example: “Z tych resztek nie zrobisz porządnego obiadu. I w Paryżu nie zrobią z owsa ryżu.” — You won't make a proper dinner out of these scraps: you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Dutch, and Chinese
English: You can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear
French: Le singe est toujours singe, fût-il vêtu de pourpre (literally: A monkey is always a monkey, even dressed in purple)
Spanish: Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda (literally: Even if the monkey dresses in silk, she remains a monkey)
Japanese: 瓦は磨いても玉にならず (Kawara wa migaite mo tama ni narazu) (literally: A roof tile, however much you polish it, will not become a jewel)
Dutch: Al draagt een aap een gouden ring, het is en blijft een lelijk ding (literally: Even if an ape wears a gold ring, it's still an ugly thing)
Chinese: 朽木不可雕 (Xiǔ mù bù kě diāo) (literally: Rotten wood can't be carved)
Origin: Even in Paris, capital of refinement, no one can turn oats into rice; Paryżu and ryżu rhyme.
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