a man once had four sons who never stopped quarrelling with one another.

從前有一個人，他有四個兒子，但兒子們不斷地争吵。

he was always telling them how much easier life would be if they worked together but they took absolutely no notice of him.

他一再告誡他們說，如果他們一起幹活兒，生活會舒适得多，但他們絲毫不理會他的意見。

one day he decided to show them what he meant.

有一天，他決定通過示範把自己的意思告訴他們。

he called all the sons together and put a tightly tied bundle of sticks on the floor in front of them.

他把四個兒子都叫來，又把一捆紮得很緊的樹枝放在他們面前。

"can you break that?" he asked the youngest son. the boy put his knee on the bundle but though he pressed and pulled with his arms he could not bend the wood.

“你能折斷這個嗎？他問最小的兒子。小兒子用膝蓋頂住，兩隻手又壓又拉，都不能把那捆樹枝弄彎。

the father asked each son in turn to try to break the bundle, but none of them could do it .

父親讓另外三個兒子挨個兒試了試，但他們誰也做不到。

then he untied the string and scattered the sticks.

然後，他解開繩子，把樹枝撒開。

"now try,"he said. the boys broke the sticks easily in their hands.

¨現在試試吧。¨他說。四個小夥子用手輕輕一撅，樹枝就斷了。

"do you see what i mean?" asked the father. "if only you stand together no one can hurt you .

¨你們明白我的意思了嗎？”父親問，¨隻要你們聯合起來，誰也不能傷害你們。

if you all disagree the whole time and insist on going your separate ways, the first enemy you meet will be able to destroy you.'

如果你們老吵架，堅持各行其是，那麼你們一遇到敵人，就會被打敗。¨

absolutely ['æbsəlju:tli, ,æbsə'lju:tli] 完全地；絕對地

stick 【stik]月．枝條；枯枝

bundle [stik] 捆，束，紮

scatter ['skætə] v(使l散開，(使)分散

destroy [di'strɔi] v破壞，毀滅

a man once had four sons who never stopped quarrelling with one another.

從前有一個人，他有四個兒子，但兒子們不斷地争吵。

the father asked each son in turn to try to break the bundle.

父親讓另外三個兒子挨個兒試了試。

united we stand; divided we fall.

合則存，分則敗。