Hinduism

Tukaram, Poem 3576

You may decorate an ass, and devote fond attention to him; he will never be a horse, whatever you do.
He will never stop braying; how can he help his own nature?
You may seat a dog in a litter; but he will not stop his aimless barking.
Tuka says, These actions are natural to the creatures; whatever you do, a habit cannot be shaken off.

Source The Poems of Tukârâma, trad. J. Nelson Fraser et K. B. Marathe, 3 vol., 1909-1915, archive.org · Contents