you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear

Etymology
From, with the common perception of swine as unrefined, dirty, or base creatures.

Proverb

 * 1) It is not possible to produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.

Synonyms

 * you can't polish a turd

Translations

 * Afrikaans:
 * Arabic:
 * Chinese:
 * Cantonese:
 * Mandarin:
 * Dutch:
 * Finnish: ei paska punniten parane, roskasta ei saa kultaa
 * French: le singe est toujours singe, fût-il vêtu de pourpre
 * German: man kann aus einem Ackergaul kein Rennpferd machen, man kann aus einem Esel kein Rennpferd machen
 * Greek: τον γάιδαρο, όσο και να τον στολίσεις, άλογο δεν γίνεται
 * Polish:
 * Portuguese:
 * Russian:
 * Spanish: