One Arrow Alone Can Be Easily

This parable is attributed to Genghis Khan in The Secret History of the Mongols, which records Chinggis demonstrating the principle of unity to his sons using arrows — a single arrow easily broken, a bundle impossible to snap. The same metaphor appears independently in multiple cultures (including Aesop's fables) and its use by Chinggis may reflect a convergent tradition or later literary embellishment. The principle itself was foundational to his achievement: Chinggis unified the fractious Mongol tribes by replacing clan-based loyalty with a merit-based hierarchy tied directly to his command.