What Does “All Hang Together” Mean and Where Did the Expression Come From?

The meaning of the expression “all hanging together” is that our only hope is to combine our resources because we are already doomed as individuals.

It’s a quote from John Hancock, who was the first to step forward and sign the American Declaration of Independence.

He said to those gathered, “We must all hang together; else we shall all hang separately.”

And the hanging he was referring to was death on the gallows for treason.

That is why when embarking on a difficult project, does a group say they must “all hang together”.