---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know that the beginning is the most…"
description: "\"“You know that the beginning is the most important part of any work, especially in the case of a young and tender thing; for that is the time at which ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/plato-103_children_you-know-that-the-beginning-is-the-most_1702930.jpg"
---

#  You know that the beginning is the most important part of…

![“You know that the beginning is the most important part of any work, especially in the case of a young and tender thing; for that is the time at which the character is being formed and the desired impression is more readily taken…Shall we just carelessly allow children to hear any casual tales…” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/plato-103_children_you-know-that-the-beginning-is-the-most_1702930.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/plato-103_children_you-know-that-the-beginning-is-the-most_1702930.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/plato-103_children_you-know-that-the-beginning-is-the-most_1702930.jpg)

> ““You know that the beginning is the most important part of any work, especially in the case of a young and tender thing; for that is the time at which the character is being formed and the desired impression is more readily taken…Shall we just carelessly allow children to hear any casual tales which may be devised by casual persons, and to receive into their minds ideas for the most part the very opposite of those which we should wish them to have when they are grown up? We cannot…Anything received into the mind at that age is likely to become indelible and unalterable; and therefore it is most important that the tales which the young first hear should be models of virtuous thoughts…””

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Early influences shape character; children’s stories must teach virtue.

**In simple terms:** Kids learn values from what they hear.

Key Takeaway

Curate positive narratives for youth.

Themes

education morality child development

Mood

thoughtful reflective

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

- Parenting
- school curricula
- media production
- family storytelling

Key Concepts

Virtue ethics cognitive development

Questions to Reflect On

- What stories teach virtue without stifling imagination?
- How can we balance moral lessons with creativity?

A Different Perspective

Restricting stories can limit imagination and critical thinking.

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[Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/)

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