What does this qoute mean?

Question

If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain as he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to and could be”

Answer 1

That if you treat people how they should be treated because of who they are, they will never grow. but if you treat people better than they should be treated, they will become the sort of person that deserves to be treated like that. They will become a better person.

for example, if you treat some guy like trash just becuse he's scum, he will never become better than scum. If you treat him like he's a good person, he will eventually become a better person.

Answer 2

look inside the person to their soul. don't judge what's on the outside.  treat people how you want to be treated

Answer 3

i think it means that if you know someones aspirations, even if they arent there yet, treat them as if they were, and it will help them achieve what they want in life a lot quicker.

*edit*

i just read it again and thought of another interpretation. it could also mean that if someone has been through a bad patch and it has jaded them and made them do wrong deeds dont judge them for those actions, treat them as the good person originally were and they will come back to that easier.