Xiǎo jū kě xùn; lǎo mǎ nán yù.

小駒可馴, 老馬難馭。

Lit Young colts can be trained [but] old horses can hardly be driven.

Fig It's easier to educate the young than the old. If you do not educate the young, when they are older, they will be hard to handle.

Note [See also shù xiǎo, fú zhí yì above.]

Topics AGE CHILDREN EDUCATION YOUTH