父親與爭吵的兒子們
The Father and His Sons
A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling
among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his
exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration
of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told
them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he
placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,
and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their
strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the faggot,
took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his
sons' hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed
them in these words: "My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite
to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the
attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves
, you will be broken as easily as these sticks."
有個父親的兒子們常?；ハ酄幎凡恍?。他多次語重心長地勸說他們，盡管他苦口婆心， 仍無濟于事。他認為應該用事實來教育他們，便叫兒子們去拿一捆木棒來。木棒拿來后，他 先把整捆木棒交給他們，叫他們折斷。兒子們一個個竭盡了全力都無法將它折斷。隨后他解 開了那捆木棒，給他們每人一根。他們都毫不費力地將木棒折為兩段。這時，父親說：“孩 子們，你們要像木棒一樣，團結一致，齊心協力，就不會被敵人征服；可你們互相爭斗不 休，便很容易被敵人打垮。”
這故事說明，團結就是不可征服的力量，而內訌卻只能耗損自己。
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