Gǒu zǒu qiān lǐ chī shǐ; láng zǒu qiān lǐ chī rén.

Lit [Although] a dog [may] travel a thousand leagues, [it will still] eat excrement; [and although a] wolf [may] travel a thousand leagues, [it will still] eat people.

Fig People cannot overcome their basic natures. “A leopard cannot change its spots.”

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 31; note: the order of the two halves may be reversed; see also gǒu chī shǐ and gǒu gǎi bùliǎo above.]

Topics CHANGE Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn HUMAN_NATURE