The Bundle of Sticks
A wise farmer uses a bundle of sticks to show his quarreling children something important.
A farmer had three children who argued all day long. They argued about chores. They argued about toys. They even argued about who had the biggest potato at dinner.
One evening, the farmer gathered some sticks and tied them together with string. He called his children.
"Can you break this bundle?" he asked.
The oldest tried first. She pushed and pulled, but the bundle would not break. The middle child tried, red in the face. Nothing. The youngest even tried stepping on it. The bundle stayed strong.
Then the farmer untied the string and gave each child one stick. "Now try."
SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! Each stick broke easily.
"You are like these sticks," said the farmer. "When you argue and stay apart, little troubles can break you. But when you stick together and help each other, nothing can break you."
The children looked at each other. Then the youngest picked up the string and tied the broken pieces back into a little bundle. They all laughed — together.
⭐ The End ⭐
💬 Talk about it
- Why could nobody break the bundle?
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The sticks were strong when tied together. - What happened to the single sticks?
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They broke easily. - What did the farmer want his children to learn?
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They are stronger when they work together.
