The Bundle of Sticks

An old man on his death bed summoned his sons around him to give them some final advice. He pointed to a bundle of sticks, tied tightly together, and said to his eldest son: "Break it." The son strained and strained, but in spite of all his strength and effort, was unable to break the bundle. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful. "Untie the bundle," said the father, "and each of you take a stick." When they had done so, the old man said to them: "Now, break your sticks." Each stick was easily broken. "You see my meaning?" Said their father. “Together you are strong, alone, you are weak.