a house divided against itself cannot stand

a house divided against itself cannot stand

Meaning

• Things will work out when there is unity amongst those people that are involved in the task.

Example Sentences

1. The workers will need to form a union because a house divided against itself cannot stand.
2. All the aggrieved parties will file a law suit together since a house divided against itself cannot stand.
3. It is best to go to the principal together since a house divided against itself cannot stand.
4. A house divided against itself cannot stand when talking about adventure sports.

Origin
The speech given by Abraham Lincoln in 1858 which had a passage starting with this idiom. He used it in reference with the government and the slavery rules. It was the most popular passage of the entire speech and led to the legislation against slavery eventually.

The phrase is used in political context more than literary context because of its reference to the word house. It refers to the ‘house of lords' and the ‘house of common' which are the political management means of a country.