Plato isn't merely stating the obvious fact that starting matters—he's identifying something subtler about momentum and direction. Once you've set a particular course, correction becomes exponentially harder; the early decisions create a groove that's difficult to escape, whether in building a house, raising a child, or establishing a habit. A novice gardener who plants in poor soil might spend years compensating for that initial choice rather than starting fresh, while one who invested time in soil preparation finds each subsequent season easier. The insight cuts against our tendency to rush through beginnings, thinking the real work comes later.