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Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.
Robert Heinlein – http://thinkexist.com/…/218581.html
Inspired to look this up based on a conversation with a client – she was talking about discussing marketing with her husband and that it was a frustrating experience for both of them.
Date: Monday, April 28th, 2008
April 29th, 2008 at 10:42 am
The problem is… often you don’t know that you’re trying to teach a pig to sing… until it starts to “oink”.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Virtual Impax,
Too true! Thanks for stopping by.
August 18th, 2009 at 9:29 am
This has become my most often used life’s lesson. I quote this daily. I always took it to mean there are many times when you just can’t reach certain people, or make them understand.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:01 am
@Jim,
Yes, I love this phrase. It always makes me think of The Fountainhead “Casting pearls before swine without expecting so much as a pork chop in return”.
But, yes, I have taken the meaning as you did. You can shout until you’re blue in the face but a pig will never learn to sing and some people will never “get it” on the level you’d like.
So you have to reach them on their level or not at all
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
On the other hand, “perhaps the horse [or pig] will sing.” http://users.rcn.com/bbloom/KingsHorse.htm
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Very nice story Jack, thanks!