It's a proverb meaning that a person's upbringing and cultural background have a lasting impact on their personality and behavior, even if they move to a different place or experience new things.
Here's a breakdown:
* "You can take the boy out of the country": This part means that someone can physically leave their homeland or rural background.
* "But you can't take the country out of the boy": This part signifies that the person's core values, habits, and perspectives, shaped by their origin, will remain with them.
It's a way of saying that someone's roots are important and influence their actions, even in a new environment.