Meanings
Origin
From the Epistles to Several Persons (1732): "'Tis education forms the common mind, Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined."
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 少成若天性
- 少成若天性a person's formative experiences influence their adult character
Czech ohýbej proutek dokud je mladý
- ohýbej proutek dokud je mladýa person's formative experiences influence their adult character
Dutch jong geleerd is oud gedaan
- jong geleerd is oud gedaana person's formative experiences influence their adult character
Finnish nuorena vitsa väännettävä
- nuorena vitsa väännettäväa person's formative experiences influence their adult character
Polish czym skorupka za młodu nasiąknie, tym na starość trąci
- czym skorupka za młodu nasiąknie, tym na starość trącia person's formative experiences influence their adult character
Portuguese é de menino que se torce o pepino
- é de menino que se torce o pepinoa person's formative experiences influence their adult character
Cite this entry
as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20the%20twig%20is%20bent%2C%20so%20is%20the%20tree%20inclined
“as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20the%20twig%20is%20bent%2C%20so%20is%20the%20tree%20inclined. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20the%20twig%20is%20bent%2C%20so%20is%20the%20tree%20inclined.
Source: as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.