United we stand, divided we fall
"United we stand, divided we fall" is a phrase used in many different kinds of mottos, most often to inspire unity and collaboration. Its core concept lies in the collectivist notion that if individual members of a certain group with binding ideals – such as a union, coalition, confederation or alliance – work on their own instead of as a team, they are each doomed to fail and will all be defeated. The phrase is also often referred to with only the words "United we stand".
Historical origin
The phrase has been attributed to the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop, both directly in his fable "The Four Oxen and the Lion"and indirectly in "The Bundle of Sticks".
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Use in U.S. history
The first attributed use in modern times is to Founding Father John Dickinson in his pre-Revolutionary War song "The Liberty Song", "Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall!".
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Since 1942, this phrase has been the official English language state motto of Kentucky.
On the Missouri flag, the phrase is also written around the center circle.
