Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him.

The saying distinguishes between the start of formation and its completion. “Education” can initiate refinement—basic knowledge, manners, and social polish—but it does not by itself produce a fully formed “gentleman.” That requires ongoing self-cultivation: wide reading to enlarge the mind, “good company” to model and test conduct in society, and reflection to internalize principles and correct one’s faults. The emphasis is on character and judgment as lifelong achievements, not credentials. In effect, the quote argues that the finishing work of becoming admirable is done through sustained intellectual and moral practice beyond the classroom.