The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (577 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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As the TWIG is bent, so is the tree inclined
Cf.
1530
J. PALSGRAVE
L'élaircissement 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
Epistles to Several Persons
I. 102
'Tis Education forms the common mind, Just as the Twig is bent, the Tree's inclined.
1818
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
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
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.
children
;
human nature
;
nature and nurture

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