老人和他的儿子们

An old man had three sons, but the brothers were always quarreling. Their father tried to make them good friends, but he could not. At last he called all his sons to him.

　　He showed them three sticks and said, "I have something to talk to you about. Take these sticks and tie them tightly together. Then try to break the bundle of sticks."
　　The oldest son tried with all his strength, but he couldn't. Then the other two did the same, but neither of them could break them.

　　"Now," said the father, "untie the bundle and each of you take one stick and try to break it."
　　Each of them could do it very easily. Then the father said, "My sons, when the sticks are bound together, they are very strong, and you can't break them. But when they are untied, you can break each stick easily. If you keep together and help one another, you will become as strong as the bundle. But if you only quarrel and do not cooperate, you will be as weak as one of the little sticks all by itself. Nothing is more important than cooperation."

　　一个老人有三个儿子，但这三兄弟时常吵架。他们的父亲想要使他们成为好朋友，但却办不到。最后他把他的儿子们都叫来。
　　他拿出三根棍子给他们看，并且说：『我有件事要跟你们说。拿着这些棍子并把它们紧紧地绑在一起。然后设法把这捆棍子折断。』

　　大儿子用尽全力地试，但他折不断。然后其它两个儿子也照着做，但他们都没能把它们折断。
　　父亲说：『现在把这捆棍子松开，每人各拿一根棍子，并设法把它折断。』

　　他们各个都很轻易地做到了。然后父亲说：『儿子们，当这些棍子绑在一起时，它们非常坚固，你们无法折断。但当它们被松开后，你们很容易就能把每一根棍子折断。如果你们团结在一起，互相帮忙，你们就会像那一捆棍子一样坚固。但如果你们只是吵架而不合作，你们就会像分开了的小棍子一样脆弱。合作是最重要的事了。』