“Those that don't got it, can't show it. Those that got it, can't hide it.”
Variant: If you haven’t got it, you can’t show it. If you have got it, you can’t hide it.
Source: Dust Tracks on a Road (1942), Ch. 12 : My People! My People!
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Zora Neale Hurston 74
American folklorist, novelist, short story writer 1891–1960Related quotes
“If you haven’t got it, you can’t show it. If you have got it, you can’t hide it.”
Source: Dust Tracks on a Road (1942), Ch. 12 : My People! My People!
Source: Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937)
Context: "Well, Ah see Mouth-Almighty is still sittin' in de same place. And Ah reckon they got me up in they mouth now.""Yes indeed. You know if you pass some people and don't speak tuh suit 'em dey got tuh go way back in yo' life and see whut you ever done. They know mo' 'bout yuh than you do yo' self. They done 'heard' 'bout you just what they hope done happened.""If God don't think no mo' 'bout 'em than Ah do, they's a lost ball in de high grass."
Janie and Phoeby, Ch. 1, p. 16.
“You can't please all the people all the time. And yesterday, all those people were at my show.”
Strategic Grill Locations
From Grace EPK (Electronic Press Kit)
“He can run, but he can't hide.”
As quoted in The Coshocton Tribune, Coshocton, Ohio (9 June 1946). in response to interview question, "If he runs, will you chase him?" regarding Billy Conn, who planned to "hit and run" in their upcoming match.
“I'm hiding underground, I can't hear no sound”
Hidden (2017)
Regarding Any Dream Will Do; as quoted in "The turning of the Paige" by Brian Logan in The Times http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article1877776.ece (4 June 2007)
“One thing you can't hide - is when you're crippled inside.”
Out of the Shadows
Song lyrics, Touch (1988)