A country is easy to change, but a disposition is hard to change
This idiom comes from Ming Dynasty's Feng Menglong's Xingshi Hengyan. It refers to the change of human nature, which is more difficult than the change of rivers and mountains.
[idiom] easy to change, hard to change temperament [Pinyin] Ji ā ngsh ā NY ì G I, B ǐ NGX ì NGN á NY í [explanation] temperament: nature, nature (psychology refers to character). The change of human nature is more difficult than the change of rivers and mountains. It's hard to change human nature. [source] Volume 35 of Xing Shi Heng Yan by Feng Menglong of Ming Dynasty: "I don't know what the officials have. As the saying goes, "a good way is easy to change, but a good disposition is hard to change."
A country is easy to change, but a disposition is hard to change
even crows and sparrows hold peace and keep silence - yā mò què jìng
be struck by lightning and split into two halves - tiān dǎ léi pī
be a dutiful son to one 's parents even in poverty - shū shuǐ chéng huān