What is the REAL origin of the quote "United we stand, divided we
fall?" I know that Patrick Henry said it, and also it is from a song
called "Liberty Song" from the Civil War era. However the real answer
preceeds the aforemented answers. I think it dates back to Greek/Roman
era, but I don't know the EXACT origin.

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 12 Aug 2003 20:37 PDT

I took a second look, and there is a reference to "United We Stand,
Divided We Fall" in connection with a Greek author.  Specifically,
Aesop, either directly from "The Four Oxen and the Lion" or indirectly
from "The Bundle of Sticks":

"The Four Oxen and the Lion"
Bartleby.com
http://www.bartleby.com/17/1/52.html

"Kentucky's State Seal"
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
http://www.kdla.ky.gov/statelib/KYSeal.htm

"The Bundle of Sticks"
Bartleby.com
http://www.bartleby.com/17/1/72.html

While I doubt that the specific phrase "United we stand, divided we
fall" is in the original Aesop, it appears that the idea is often
traced to his fable, especially in light of the translation of the
"The Four Oxen and the Lion" and the similar "The Bundle of Sticks".

If this is sufficient for an answer, please let me know.  Otherwise, I
would continue to recommend tutuzdad to answer the question.

(Incidentally, I like the Hüsker Dü reference in your screen name. 
But why, then, didn't you ask about the origin of "Divide and
Conquer"?  ;-)  )

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Clarification of Question by zenarcader-ga on 13 Aug 2003 18:18 PDT

justaskscott-ga, you are right in your answer. Aesop is the oldest
available source of that quote.
Please post your answer.

PS: Divide and Conquer is Sun Tsu's Art of War, and Zen Arcade is a
much more ground breaking album than Flip your wig. It's amazing that
you remember Husker Du.

Thanks.

Hello zenarcader,

As you have requested, here is a repost of my Request for Question
Clarification as an answer:

There is a reference to "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" in
connection with a Greek author.  Specifically, Aesop, either directly
from "The Four Oxen and the Lion" or indirectly from "The Bundle of
Sticks":
 
"The Four Oxen and the Lion" 
Bartleby.com 
http://www.bartleby.com/17/1/52.html 
 
"Kentucky's State Seal" 
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives 
http://www.kdla.ky.gov/statelib/KYSeal.htm 
 
"The Bundle of Sticks" 
Bartleby.com 
http://www.bartleby.com/17/1/72.html 
 
While I doubt that the specific phrase "United we stand, divided we
fall" is in the original Aesop, it appears that the idea is often
traced to his fable, especially in light of the translation of the
"The Four Oxen and the Lion" and the similar "The Bundle of Sticks".

- justaskscott


Search strategy:

Searched on Google and Google Groups for:

"united we stand divided we fall" greek
"united we stand divided we fall" aesop
"bundle of sticks" aesop

P.S.: Zen Arcade is the more ground-breaking album.  But most anything
by Hüsker Dü is awe-inspiring to me.  If The Pixies are thinking of
doing a reunion, why not HD?

I hesistate to answer and claim the fee since you are convinced the
origin is much older than what has been officially recorded.

The phrase "United we stand, divided we fall" is first attributed to
John Dickinson (1732–1808) a US Statesman and essayist.

Boston Gazette (July 18, 1768) The Liberty Song (1768) he wrote:
"Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all!
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall!"

quoted in The Writings of John Dickinson, vol. 1 (1895). 

The slogan also appeared in Flag of Our Union, by journalist and poet
George Pope Morris: “’United we stand, divided we fall!"
BARTLEBY #16602
http://www.bartleby.com/66/2/16602.html

Let me know if you are willing to accept this as the true answer and I
will close the question for you.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

See my previous answer:

"United We Stand"
Google Answers
http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=156337

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations agrees that Dickinson is the originator.

Thus, I believe that tutuzdad is right, and should be allowed to post an answer.