A man had several sons who were always fighting with each other. Try as he might, he could not get them to live together in peace. He decided to show them how foolish they were. He told them to bring a bundle of sticks. He tied the sticks together. He told each son to break off the bundle across his knee. They all tried and they all failed. Then the father undid the bundle. He handed them the sticks one by one. The boys broke the sticks easily.
"You see, my boys," said the father, "When you are together, you are strong. You are more than a match for your enemies. If you quarrel and separate, you are weak and can be broken." The father wanted to ______.