In Buddhism/Taoism, it's said that teachings are like someone pointing at the moon: If you just look at their fingers, you'll not see the moon.

Or "playing the fiddle for a cow" (though we know some animals can appreciate music in some way)

The point being that advice depends on the listener's capacity to understand the intent of the advisor.

I guess that's where the saying "playing the flute in front of the water buffalo" comes from