ProverbHuman NatureRussian origin

Старый конь борозды не испортит (Staryy kon' borozdy ne isportit)

Meaning: An experienced person still does the job well.

Literally: An old horse won't spoil the furrow

Example: “Дедушка починил забор лучше всех. Старый конь борозды не испортит.” — Grandpa fixed the fence better than anyone: there's many a good tune played on an old fiddle.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Italian

  • English: There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle
  • French: C'est dans les vieux pots qu'on fait la meilleure soupe (literally: It's in old pots that the best soup is made)
  • Spanish: Gallina vieja hace buen caldo (literally: An old hen makes good broth)
  • Japanese: 腐っても鯛 (Kusatte mo tai) (literally: Even rotten, it's still a sea bream)
  • Italian: Gallina vecchia fa buon brodo (literally: An old hen makes good broth)

Origin: Ploughing a straight furrow takes an old, steady horse, not a young one.

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