An ape is ne'er so like an ape, as when he wears a doctor's cape. 
Proverbs on a similar topic
- Old habits die hard.
- Nature will have its course.
- That which is crooked cannot be made straight.
- As a man lives, so shall he die, as a tree falls, so shall it lie.
- A crow is never the whiter for washing herself often.
- The ass loaded with gold Still eats thistles.
- What good can it do an ass to be called a lion?
- The cask savours of the first fill.
- A kite will never be a good hawk.
- Bring a cow to the hall and she will run to the byre.
- Send a fool to France, and a fool he'll come back.
Related proverbs
Similar proverbs in another language
Latin
-
Simia simia est, etiamsi aurea gestat insignia.
A monkey is a monkey, even if it wears golden insignia.
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Simia est simia, etiamsi purpura vestiatur.
A monkey is a monkey, even if it is dressed in purple.
-
In vestimentis non est mutatio mentis.
There is no change of mind in clothes.
French
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Un singe vêtu de pourpre est toujours un singe.
A monkey in purple is still a monkey.
-
Un mors doré ne rend pas un cheval meilleur.
A gold bit doesn't make a horse better.
-
Le singe fût-il vêtu de pourpre est toujours singe.
Even a monkey dressed in purple is still a monkey.
German
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Ein Affe bleibt ein Affe, ob er wird König oder Pfaffe.
A monkey remains a monkey, whether he becomes king or priest.
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Aus einer Sau zeucht man keinen Zelter.
You can't make a tent out of a sow.
Czech
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Svině zůstane sviní, byť na sobě zlaté sedlo měla.
A sow will remain a sow, even if she was wearing a golden saddle.
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Strč na svini zlatohlav, přece sviní zůstane.
Put a golden head on a swine, it will remain a swine.