As the twig is bent, so grows the tree

Meaning: Early experiences and upbringing shape a person's lifelong character and habits.

Origin: Popularized by Alexander Pope's Moral Essays (1732), with roots in ancient Greek thought.

Translations

• French: Tel l'arbuste est plié, tel grandit l'arbre (literally: As the sapling is bent, so grows the tree)
• Spanish: Como se dobla la ramita, así crece el árbol (literally: As the twig is bent, so the tree grows)
• Japanese: 若木が曲げられる方向に木は育つ (Wakagi ga magerareru hōkō ni ki wa sodatsu) (literally: A tree grows in the direction the young plant was bent)

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