The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day.
Interpretation
Childhood experiences shape a person's character and future behaviors.
This quote by John Milton suggests that the traits and inclinations developed during childhood reveal the essence of a person's character in adulthood, much like the early light of dawn indicates the nature of the day to come. It emphasizes the significant impact that formative years have on an individual's life journey and moral development.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of early education, you might say, 'As John Milton stated, The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day.'
They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand, the gate With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms: Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide; They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, Through Eden took their solitary way.
The stars, that nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps with everlasting oil, give due light to the misled and lonely traveller.
Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipp'd stocks and stones.
Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss
The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate Him.
Apt words have power to suage the tumors of a troubled mind.
There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.
The incomparable greatness of the religions of the East lies in their having been second to none in vibrating with the passion for unity. This note, which is essential to every form of mysticism, has even penetrated them so deeply that we find ourselves falling under a spell simply by uttering the names of their Gods.
If he be really and seriously seeking to live a good life, the first thing from which he will abstain will always be the use of animal food, because ...its use is simply immoral, as it involves the performance of an act which is contrary to the moral feeling - killing.
Man is diminished if he lives without knowledge of his past; without hope of a future he becomes a beast.
Are you sure/That we are awake? It seems to me/That yet we sleep, we dream
Greed is an imperfection that defiles the mind; hate is an imperfection that defiles the mind; delusion is an imperfection that defiles the mind.
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