ProverbWisdom
French origin
French originLe singe est toujours singe, fût-il vêtu de pourpre
Meaning: Finery can't change someone's true nature.
Literally: A monkey is always a monkey, even dressed in purple
Example: “Il s'est acheté une voiture de luxe, mais il est toujours aussi grossier. Le singe est toujours singe, fût-il vêtu de pourpre.” — He bought a luxury car, but he's just as rude: you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear.
Equivalents in English, Spanish, Japanese, Dutch, Polish, and Chinese
English: You can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear
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)
Polish: I w Paryżu nie zrobią z owsa ryżu (literally: Even in Paris they can't make rice out of oats)
Chinese: 朽木不可雕 (Xiǔ mù bù kě diāo) (literally: Rotten wood can't be carved)
Origin: The image of an ape in purple is ancient: Erasmus collected it among his Adages, from the Greek πίθηκος ἐν πορφύρᾳ, of people recognized for what they are despite splendid clothes.
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