a house divided against itself cannot stand
a house divided against itself cannot stand
proverb 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
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
a house divided
a group or organization weakened by internal dissensions.This phrase alludes to Matthew 12:25: ‘Every city or house divided against itself shall not stand’, that is, will be unable to withstand external pressures.
See also: divided, house
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
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