Two young brothers were always arguing. On day their father called them together.

“Bring me a bundle¹ of sticks tied with twine,” said the father.

The boys gathered the bundle of sticks. The father asked the older son to break it in half.

The older son tried, but he could not even bend the bundle. So the father handed it to the younger son. He could not bend it either.

The father untied² the bundle and handed each boy a single stick. The brothers broke them easily.

“Do you see?” said the father. “Stop arguing and keep together like brothers. Then no one can hurt you, for you will be too strong. But if you quarrel and are divided like these sticks, then anyone can break you with ease³.”