The bundle of sticks | #The bundles of sticks tied with string The Moral There’s strength in unity. Once upon a time # there was an old man who lived in a village with his three sons. Although his three sons were hard workers # they quarreled all the time. The old man tried to unite them but failed. Months passed by # and the old man became sick. He asked his sons to remain united # but they failed to listen to him. At that moment # the old man decided to teach them a lesson — to forget their differences and come together in unity. The old man summoned his sons # then proceeded to tell them # “I will provide you with a bundle of sticks. Separate each stick # and then break each into two. The one who finishes first will be rewarded more than the others.” And so # the sons agreed. The old man provided them with a bundle of ten sticks each # and then asked the sons to break each stick into pieces. The sons broke the sticks within minutes # then proceeded to quarrel among themselves again. The old man said # “My dear sons # the game is not yet over. I will now give you another bundle of sticks. Only this time # you will have to break them together as a bundle # not separately.” The sons readily agreed and then tried to break the bundle. Despite trying their best # they could not break the sticks. The sons told their father of their failure. The old man said # see! Breaking every single stick individually was easy for you # but breaking them in a bundle # you could not do. By staying united # nobody can harm you. If you continue to quarrel # then anyone can quickly defeat you.” The old man continued # “I ask that you stay united.” Then # the three sons understood there’s power in unity # and promised their father they would all stay together.