John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
8834 Plutarh AD 46?-AD 120 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 8834 |
| AUTHOR: | Plutarch (A.D. 46?–A.D. c. 120) |
| QUOTATION: | Scilurus on his death-bed, being about to leave four-score sons surviving, offered a bundle of darts to each of them, and bade them break them. When all refused, drawing out one by one, he easily broke them,—thus teaching them that if they held together, they would continue strong; but if they fell out and were divided, they would become weak. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. 1 Scilurus. |
| Note 1. Rejected by some critics as not a genuine work of Plutarch.—Ralph Waldo Emerson. [back] |