You can lead a whore to culture but you can't make her think

Definitions

• discourage someone
  Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

• inability to change someone's mindset or behavior
  Express frustration at someone's unwillingness to be open-minded or receptive to new ideas or experiences

Examples of You can lead a whore to culture but you can't make her think

• The wealthy businessman took the infamous prostitute to the opera, thinking that exposing her to high culture would change her ways. However, as the intermission rolled around and the woman excused herself to go smoke cigarettes with the men in the hallway, he realized that you truly can't make a whore think.

  This example uses the idiom "you can lead a whore to culture but you can't make her think" in a figurative sense to describe a situation where someone tries to improve the morality or intellect of a person who is notoriously immoral or unintelligent, but ultimately fails due to the individual's inherent nature. In this instance, the phrase is applied to a businessman's futile attempt to change the habits of a prostitute through cultural exposure, as she continues to engage in unsavory behavior despite being exposed to high culture at the opera.

• The wealthy businessman paid for the prostitute's admission to the opera, hoping to introduce her to the finer things in life. But as the music filled the hall and the audience settled in for the performance, the woman's eyes glazed over and she fidgeted in her seat. It became apparent that she couldn't appreciate the beauty of the art form, no matter how much money was spent to expose her to it.

  This idiom suggests that no matter how much effort is put into trying to refine or improve someone, they may not have the capability or desire to internalize that change. The prostitute in this example was not equipped with the intellectual or emotional capacity to enjoy the opera, despite being exposed to it.

• The etiquette lessons were lost on the brash, vulgar celebrity. He continued to burst into restaurants, banging tables and shouting for service. The upscale country club where he had been granted membership grumbled that he was ruining the serene atmosphere they had carefully crafted for their elite clientele.

  This idiom can also be used to express the futility of attempting to reform someone's behavior. The celebrity in this example, despite being introduced to the manners and customs of high society, failed to absorb their lessons and continued his rude and boorish ways.

• The struggling writer poured over literary classics, hoping to learn how to craft a novel that would capture the hearts and minds of readers. But no matter how many times she read "Pride and Prejudice" or "War and Peace," her own writing remained shallow and uninspired. Her literary mentors were growing increasingly skeptical that she would ever succeed in her chosen profession.

  This idiom can also be interpreted as a commentary on the innate talents and abilities of people. The writer in this example may have had good intentions, but the quality of her writing remained lacking despite her efforts to improve it through study and practice.

• The artist's work was lauded by critics, but his personal life was a mess. He spent his days drowning in alcohol and women, carelessly wasting his talent and potential. The art world was divided over whether his artistic greatness outweighed his moral failings.

  This idiom can be applied to people who have exceptional talent in one area, but lack common sense or basic knowledge in other aspects of life. The artist in this example was a shining star in the world of art, but his self-destructive behavior left many wondering whether his artistic genius should be celebrated despite his personal shortcomings.

Conclusion

The idiom "You can lead a whore to culture but you can't make her think" is often used to discourage someone from engaging in a particular activity or to express frustration at someone's unwillingness to be open-minded. It serves as a cautionary warning about the limitations of trying to change someone's mindset or behavior.

The phrase is not commonly used in polite or formal conversation due to its controversial and derogatory nature. It is important to be mindful of the potentially offensive connotations of the word "whore" and to use this idiom with caution.

Origin of "You can lead a whore to culture but you can't make her think"

The origin of the idiom "You can lead a whore to culture but you can't make her think" is unclear, but it is believed to have originated from a play or literary work. The phrase is a play on the well-known idiom "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink," which means that you can give someone the opportunity to do something, but you can't force them to take advantage of it.

In this variation, the word "whore" is used to convey a sense of stubbornness or resistance to intellectual or cultural pursuits. The phrase is often used in a humorous or sarcastic context to highlight the futility of trying to change someone's mindset or behavior. While the origin of the idiom may be ambiguous, its message about the limitations of influence and the importance of open-mindedness remains relevant.