as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined
- as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined
Cf. 1530 J. PALSGRAVE L’éclaircissement de la Langue Française 161 A man may bende a wande [shoot] while it is grene [pliant] and make it strayght though it be neuer so croked.
1732 POPE Epistles to Several Persons 1.102 ’Tis Education forms the common mind, Just as the Twig is bent, the Tree’s inclined.
1818 T. G. FESSENDEN Ladies Monitor 75’ ’Tis education forms the tender mind, Just as the twig is bent the tree’s inclined.’ This hacknied adage, not more trite than true.
1940 P. McGINLEY Primary Education in Pocketful of Wry 16 As bends the twig, thus grows the el-em... So, twice a month, we’re bound to sell ’em The doctrine of Impartial Minds.
1979 ‘C. AIRD’ Some die Eloquent viii. ‘Nature, not nurture?’ murmured the biologist... ‘As the twig is bent,’ Sloan came back.
1996 National Review 9 Dec. 63 Older, bigger children defend their privileges, while younger kids try to subvert the status quo. As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.
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just as the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined — Things, especially education, that affect and influence us in our childhood shape the kind of adult we turn out to be. (There are various versions of this, like As the twig is bent, the tree s inclined and As the twig is bent, so the tree… … The small dictionary of idiomes
tree — see as a tree falls, so shall it lie the tree is known by its fruit the apple never falls far from the tree he that would eat the fruit must climb the tree when the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten, and the last stream poisoned, you… … Proverbs new dictionary
twig — see as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined … Proverbs new dictionary
bent — see as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined … Proverbs new dictionary
inclined — see as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined … Proverbs new dictionary
Division of the field — In heraldry, the field (background) of a shield can be divided into more than one area of different tinctures, usually following the lines of one of the ordinaries and carrying its name (e.g. a shield divided in the shape of a chevron is said to… … Wikipedia
Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Thematic Index — absence absence makes the heart grow fonder he who is absent is always in the wrong the best of friends must part blue are the hills that are far away distance lends enchantment to the view out of sight, out of mind … Proverbs new dictionary
slant — vb Slant, slope, incline, lean are comparable when they mean to diverge or cause to diverge from a vertical or horizontal line. Slant carries the sharpest and clearest implication of such divergence of any of these terms but it carries no… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
floral decoration — Art of arranging living or dried plant material for adornment of the body or home, for public and religious ceremonies, or for festivals. Line, form, colour, texture, balance, porportion, and scale are important aspects of floral arrangement, as… … Universalium
Twigs (play) — It is comprised of four vignettes involving three sisters and their mother, each focusing on one of the women as she confronts various issues with the man in her life. Emily is a recent widow, relocating to a new apartment, who finds herself… … Wikipedia
