What Is The Origin Of The Phrase "United We Stand"�"�?

"…divided we fall." The meaning of this phrase is illustrated by one of Aesop's fables. A father was distressed by the way his many sons kept quarrelling. In the end he asked each of them to fetch him a stick from the wood. He put all the sticks together and told each of the sons in turn to try and break the bundle, which none of them could do. Then he separated the bundle and handed each of his sons a single stick, which they were invited to break. Of course each stick broke easily. The old man then pointed out to his children that they were like the sticks; if they stuck together, they were strong and nothing could overcome them; but as long as they quarrelled and divided their strength, each only had the power of one. The fable is sometimes used in business seminars to illustrate the importance of teamwork.