the fox may grow grey but never good

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

One cannot change one's nature, no matter how much time passes.

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “the fox may grow grey but never good” mean?

One cannot change one's nature, no matter how much time passes.

Is “the fox may grow grey but never good” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.