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Scilurus on his death-bed, being about to leave fourscore 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.

Scilurus on his death-bed, being about to leave fourscore 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.

Approximate author period: c. 83 AD · classical

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Attribution & collection notes
Author or tradition
Plutarch
Attribution: attributed
Country attributed
Not established
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Historical period
Approximate author period: c. 83 AD · classical
author lifetime midpoint
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Recorded source
Familiar Quotations, ninth edition (1905 printing) (1905 AD)

Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Scilurus.

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