Aesop's Fables - The Bundle of Sticksนิทานอีสป - มัดไม้

The Bundle of Sticks

Once there was an old man.

He had three sons.

The sons often fought and yelled at one another.

This made their father feel very bad.

One day he called his sons together.

He showed them a bundle of sticks.

They were tied together.

"Take this bundle of sticks and break it," he said, handing it to the oldest son.

"That will be easy," said the son.

I am very strong.

The oldest son tried and tried, but the bundle of sticks would not break.

"You're so weak," the second son cried.

"You try," their father said to him, handing the bundle to the second son.

"Easy, I'm the strongest," he said, but he also could not break it.

The youngest son tried next, but the bundle stayed whole.

Then their father untied the bundle.

He handed each son a single stick.

"Now break them," he said.

Each son easily broke his stick.

"Do you see?" asked their father.

When the sticks are together, they are strong.

When they are apart, they are weak.

It is the same with you.

If you fight and stand alone, you will be weak and can be broken.

But if you stand together, you will be strong.

The sons looked at one another.

Then the oldest one said, "Father, we understand."

From now on, we will not fight anymore.