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A house divided against itself cannot stand

Meaning: Internal conflict destroys an organization from within; unity is essential for survival.

Origin: Biblical proverb (Mark 3:25), famously quoted by Abraham Lincoln in his 1858 House Divided speech.

Translations

  • French: Une maison divisée contre elle-même ne peut pas tenir (literally: A house divided against itself cannot stand)
  • Spanish: Una casa dividida contra sí misma no puede mantenerse en pie (literally: A house divided against itself cannot stand)
  • Japanese: 内輪もめする家は滅びる (Uchiwa mome suru ie wa horobiru) (literally: A house of internal conflict will perish)

More proverbs about Morality

  • Judge not, lest ye be judged — We should refrain from judging others because we ourselves are imperfect.
  • If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your own path — Helping others ultimately benefits yourself as well.
  • There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience — Peace of mind and restful sleep come only from living and acting honorably.
  • The more laws, the less justice — Excessive rules and regulations can undermine rather than promote fairness.
  • Know thyself — Self-knowledge and self-awareness are the foundation of all wisdom and right living.
  • Waste not, want not — Using things carefully and avoiding waste prevents future need and scarcity.

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