the wolf may lose his teeth but never his nature
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 wolf may lose his teeth but never his nature” mean?
One cannot change one's nature, no matter how much time passes.
Is “the wolf may lose his teeth but never his nature” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.