The Bundle of Sticks
A free B1-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
A father tired of his sons' constant quarrelling sets them a simple test with a bundle of sticks — one that makes his point better than words ever could.
A certain man had several Sons who were always quarrelling with one another, and, try as he might, he could not get them to live together in harmony. So he determined to convince them of their folly by the following means. Bidding them fetch a bundle of sticks, he invited each in turn to break it across his knee. All tried and all failed: and then he undid the bundle, and handed them the sticks one by one, when they had no difficulty at all in breaking them.
Certo homem tinha vários Filhos que viviam brigando entre si, e, por mais que tentasse, não conseguia fazê-los viver em harmonia. Então decidiu convencê-los de sua tolice por meio do seguinte. Pedindo que trouxessem um feixe de varas, convidou cada um, por sua vez, a quebrá-lo sobre o joelho. Todos tentaram e todos falharam; então ele desfez o feixe e entregou-lhes as varas uma a uma, quando não tiveram dificuldade alguma em quebrá-las.
"There, my boys," said he, "united you will be more than a match for your enemies: but if you quarrel and separate, your weakness will put you at the mercy of those who attack you."
"Vejam, meus filhos", disse ele, "unidos vocês serão mais fortes que seus inimigos; mas se brigarem e se separarem, sua fraqueza os deixará à mercê daqueles que os atacarem."
Union is strength.
A união faz a força.
