ProverbHuman NatureGerman origin

Was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr

Meaning: What you don't learn when young is hard to learn later.

Literally: What little Hans doesn't learn, grown Hans will never learn

Example: “Fang früh mit dem Klavier an – was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr.” — Start piano early: you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Equivalents in English, Spanish, and Russian

  • English: You can't teach an old dog new tricks
  • Spanish: Loro viejo no aprende a hablar (literally: An old parrot doesn't learn to speak)
  • Russian: Старого учить — что мёртвого лечить (Starogo uchit' — chto myortvogo lechit') (literally: Teaching the old is like healing the dead)

Origin: Hänschen is the child, Hans the grown man: the same person, with fewer chances as he gets older.

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