you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear in Greek
you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear in Greek
τον γάιδαρο, όσο και να τον στολίσεις, άλογο δεν γίνεται
It is not possible to produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.