as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined

Questions

What does as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined mean?

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

Where does as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined come from?

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

How to pronounce as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.