expression
by nature, near together; by practice, far apart
Proverb from the Analects of Confucius meaning that people are born similar but diverge through habits and learning.
「性相近し、習い相遠し」という言葉は、教育の大切さを説いている。
The saying 'By nature, near together; by practice, far apart' teaches the importance of education.
From the Analects of Confucius (論語), Book 17, Chapter 2. The original Chinese is 性相近也，習相遠也.