as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined

English

Etymology

From the Epistles to Several Persons (1732): "'Tis education forms the common mind, Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined."

Proverb

as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined

1. A person's formative experiences in youth influence their character during adulthood.

Translations

a person's formative experiences influence their adult character

• Arabic: please add this translation if you can
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Dutch: jong geleerd is oud gedaan
• Finnish: nuorena vitsa väännettävä (chiefly when talking about teaching someone good manners when they are young)
• Polish: czym skorupka za młodu nasiąknie, tym na starość trąci (pl)
• Portuguese: é de menino que se torce o pepino (pt)
• Russian: please add this translation if you can
• Spanish: please add this translation if you can

Further reading

• Oxford Reference