English Proverbs – THE CHILD IS THE FATHER OF THE MAN

Proverb Expansion

THE CHILD IS THE FATHER OF THE MAN

This statement is found in Wordsworth’s poem ‘The Rainbow’. It means that the child is superior to the adult because the child is nearer to God. The proverb can be explained from point of view. A person’s childhood is an indicator of his manhood. The childhood experience of a person is the measuring rod of what he would be when reaches manhood. A child is quick to learn things, good or bad. Whatever it learns, will remain with it even when it reaches adulthood. The period of childhood is the most impressionable in life of a man. The mental, moral and spiritual qualities present in a person were inculcated in him during his childhood. The childhood experiences shape the character of a person. Anything that the child learns or acquires in that period has a far –reaching consequence in his career. If a child is insulted for doing a thing, the feeling of the insulted will remain with him even when he reaches manhood. He will not do that same thing even if it is needed because of his childhood experience. Good things learned and done during childhood will help people to earn fame and name in future. Shivaji’s mother used to tell him stories of great warriors and he listened to them his eagerly. This may be one reason that made Shavaji a great warrior and ruler. Florence Nightingale used to nurse  This experience helped