Shù xiǎo, fú zhí yì; shù dà, bān zhí nán.

樹小扶直易, 樹大扳直難。

Lit [When a] tree is young, [it is] easier to prop [it] up straight, [but when a] tree is older, straightening [it] is harder.

Fig It's easy to help correct children's shortcomings or bad habits, but (more) difficult to do so with adults.

Note [See also xiǎo jū kě xùn below.]

Topics CHILDREN EDUCATION HABITS SHORTCOMINGS