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divided

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a house divided against itself cannot stand

If a group's members are in perpetual disagreement, the group will eventually cease to exist. The phrase is derived from a verse in the Bible (Mark 3:25) and was popularized in an 1858 speech by Abraham Lincoln. The candidate urged the members of his political party to unite because he understood that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

See also: cannot, divided, house, itself, stand

divided on

having differing opinions about someone or something. Our opinions are divided on what is going to happen. We were divided on Ann. Some of us wanted to choose her; some did not.

See also: divided, on

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Prov. If the members of a group fight each other, the group will disintegrate. (Often the group under discussion is a family.) The leader of the newly formed union tried hard to reconcile the different factions within his organization, because he knew that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

See also: cannot, divided, house, itself, stand

United we stand, divided we fall.

Prov. People who join together as a group are much harder to defeat than they would be separately. The tenants of this building must band together if we are to make the landlord agree to our demands. United we stand, divided we fall! We had better all agree on what we are going to say to the boss before we go in there and say it. United we stand, divided we fall.

See also: divided, fall, we