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The bundle of sticks
On a farm there once lived a wise father and his three sons. The father loved his sons, but he was not happy. His sons argued all day long. One day, the wise father asked his sons to build a new fence in the south pasture. All three sons spoke up at once, each wanting to build the fence on his own to impress their father.
Peter, the oldest, said, “I can build it the fastest.”
John, the middle son said, “My fence will be the strongest”.
The third son, David, said, “I am the cleverest. My fence will be the best.”
The wise father looked at his sons and said, “You will all build the fence together, my sons. You can do it easily if you work together.” With that, the father sent his sons off to start their work.
The next day the father gazed down at his sons from above the pasture. What he saw and heard saddened him. The boys had not started building the fence, instead they stood there arguing. Each was telling the other what to do, and nothing was coming along. The father walked down the hill to his sons and told them to gather as many sticks as they could carry.
When they returned, the wise father said, “Each of you take one stick from this bundle that you gathered. Try to break your stick.”
Each son broke his stick and the eldest said, “But this is so easy father.”
“Yes my son. You are quite right. Each stick alone breaks quite easily,” said the father.
Then the wise father tied a string around the bundle. “Now, I want each of you to try to break the entire bundle of sticks that you gathered.”
“I shall go first,” said John, “for I am the strongest.” He tried with all his might, but could not break the bundle. Neither could any of his brothers could break the bundle.
“What does this mean father?” The sons asked.
“My sons, you should be like this bundle of sticks,” said the wise old man, “alone, you are like the single stick, which broke so easily.”
With these words, the father left his sons. One week passed. The father decided it was time to go to the pasture to see the progress on the construction of the fence. He was happy with what he saw. All three of his sons were working together, and the fence was almost finished!
“My sons, what a fine job you have done!” said the father. “How did you do it so well?”
Peter said, “After we cut down the first tree for fence posts, we each tried to lift it, wanting to be the first one to please you, but none of us could lift it alone. We were only strong enough to carry it when we worked together.”
John said, “I also learned that when Peter or David held them in place, I could nail the post much faster.”
“We remembered what you said about the bundle of sticks, father,” said David.
“My sons, you have done well,” said the father. “You have learned your lesson and worked together. Like the fine fence you built, we are all the stronger for it.”
A group is strongest when everyone works together.
Adapted from Aesop’s fable
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