"If an ass goes travelling he will not come home a horse"

Transformation is often imagined as the outcome of travel or exposure to new places, assuming that simply leaving familiar territory guarantees profound change. However, Thomas Fuller’s observation, “If an ass goes travelling he will not come home a horse,” cautions against this naïve belief. The essence of the individual, he suggests, remains intact despite physical movement or the glamour of distant journeys. While circumstances may alter and scenery may shift, the fundamental nature of a person persists unless genuine internal growth takes place.

Travel, in itself, is frequently romanticized as inherently enriching. Yet without openness to learning, self-reflection, or a willingness to evolve, mere relocation does not ensure meaningful progress. The donkey is emblematic of stubbornness or folly; no matter how far it wanders, its core attributes are unaltered. Similarly, those immune to change—unwilling to engage with new ideas or perspectives—find their journeys superficial. They collect postcards and stories but emerge unchanged at heart.

True transformation is not dictated by geography, but by inward readiness. Exposure to new environments only becomes fruitful when coupled with humility and the effort to absorb and adapt. The horse, often associated with nobility, strength, or wisdom, is not a guaranteed end point for everyone who embarks on a journey. Without active participation in personal growth, habits and mindsets persist despite external novelty.

There is a gentle critique here of those who seek improvement through external means alone, assuming that circumstances rather than introspection will bring about development. The value of travel, learning, or any form of adventure lies in the depth of engagement, not the act itself. Fundamentally, inner transformation is a conscious and deliberate process—a journey that goes far beyond the physical distance travelled.