16.The Bundle of Sticks一把筷子

 The Bundle of Sticks

By Aesop

A cartain manhad several sons who were always quarreling with one another , and try as might, he could not get them to live together in harmony . So he determined toconvince them of their folly by the following means .Bidding then fetch abundle of sticks . Bidding them fetch a bundle of sticks , he invited each inturn to break it across his knee . All tried and all failed ; and then he undidthe bundle , and handed them the sticks one by one , when they had nodifficulty at all in breaking them . ＂There , my boys , ＂said he , ＂united you will be more than a match for your enemies , but if youquarrel and separate , your weakness will put you at the mercy of those whoattack you .＂

Union isstrength .

一把筷子

伊索

Aesop 伊索。

一根棍子易折，一把棍子才不易断。这篇寓言告诉我们分裂导致失败，团结才有力量的道理。

从前有一个人，有好几个儿子，他们经常发生争吵，这个人费了很大的劲，也无法让他的儿子们和和气气地生活在一起。于是，他想出了一个办法，可以让他们明白自己的愚蠢。

他让他们拿来了一把筷子，然后一个个地要他们把它顶着膝盖折断。每个儿子都试了试，最后都无法折断。然后，他解开了捆着筷子的绳子，把筷子一根根递给儿子们，他们毫不费力就把筷子折断了。“你们明白了吗，孩子们？”他说，“如果你们团结在一起，没有人可以是你们的对手，但如果你们一天到晚争吵不休，四分五裂，你们就会变得很虚弱，谁都可以打败你们。”

团结就是力量。