浪子回頭金不換

From the novel 覺世名言十二樓 by Li Yu (1611–1680):

俗語道得好：「浪子回頭金不換。」但凡走過邪路的人，歸到正經路上，更比自幼學好的不同，叫做「大悟之後，永不再迷」，哪裡還肯回頭做那不端不正的事！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]

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俗语道得好：「浪子回头金不换。」但凡走过邪路的人，归到正经路上，更比自幼学好的不同，叫做「大悟之后，永不再迷」，哪里还肯回头做那不端不正的事！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

From: 17th century, Li Yu, 覺世名言十二樓

Súyǔ dào de hǎo: “Làngzǐ huítóu jīnbùhuàn.” Dànfán zǒu guò xiélù de rén, guī dào zhèngjīng lù shàng, gèng bǐ zìyòu xué hǎo de bùtóng, jiàozuò “dàwù zhīhòu, yǒng bù zài mí”, nǎlǐ hái kěn huítóu zuò nà bùduānbùzhèng de shì! [Pinyin]

(please add an English translation of this usage example)

浪子回頭金不換

1. It is rare when someone who has gone astray turns over a new leaf, so we should accept that person with open arms when the person does reform.

• 敗子回頭金不換／败子回头金不换