As the twig is bent so grows the tree.

Posted by Smokey Stover July 07, 2009 at 15:04In reply to As the twig bends so bends the tree posted by Victoria S Dennis on July 04, 2009 at 22:59:

Does anyone know the derivation of the phrase "as the twig bends so bends the tree"?

It's just an old proverb.The idea has been expressed in various ways for nearly five hundred years. E.g. in 1530: "A man may bend a wande while it is grene & make it straight though it be ne'er so crooked", and Alexander Pope in 1732: "'Tis Education forms the common mind, Just as the Twig is bent the Tree's inclined". (VSD)

The old proverb quoted by Steven Robles came to my ears in this form: "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree." There's no substantive difference there, and no doubt old proverbs get bent all the time. I doubt if this old proverb began as one of Pope's numerous epigrams, and I doubt if one can rule that one particular form is definitive, barring certain knowledge of the original author. Still, I like this particular wording.
SS