As the twig is bent the tree inclines.

A twig is bent while it is green.

Education forms the common mind. Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined.

'Tis education forms the common mind; just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined.

It's when a fruit is growing on a tree and a twig or leaf brushes against the fruit as it's maturing and leaves this mark. It's a characteristic of a lot of oranges you never see.

Only recently - about five minutes ago, relative to the long-running human comedy - have parents been driving themselves to distraction by taking too seriously the idea that 'as the twig is bent the tree's inclined.'