And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world it is best to hold hands and stick together.

This line is widely attributed to Robert Fulghum in connection with his essay collection on basic life lessons learned in kindergarten. In that setting, Fulghum reflects on simple childhood rules—sharing, playing fair, cleaning up, and looking out for one another—and argues that they remain applicable in adult life. The “hold hands and stick together” image evokes the practical instruction given to children on field trips or when crossing streets, which Fulghum repurposes as a metaphor for mutual support and solidarity beyond childhood. I cannot, however, confirm the exact publication venue or the precise essay/passage in which this sentence appears.

Fulghum’s line extends a childlike image—holding hands—into an adult ethic of solidarity. It suggests that vulnerability does not disappear with age; if anything, the wider world can be more complex and isolating than childhood. “Hold hands” functions as a metaphor for mutual support, loyalty, and community, while “stick together” emphasizes practical cooperation in the face of uncertainty. The quote’s power lies in its plain diction and its reversal of expectations: what seems like a kindergarten habit becomes a lifelong survival strategy. It also implies a critique of rugged individualism, arguing that connection is not immaturity but wisdom.