失马塞翁 — “A blessing in disguise”

In ancient times, there lived an old man on the frontier. One day, his horse escaped and ran off to the land of the nomadic tribes beyond the Great Wall. His neighbors came to console him, but the old man calmly remarked, 'How do you know this isn't a blessing?'

A few months later, the lost horse returned, bringing with it several wild horses. His neighbors congratulated him, but the old man mused, 'How do you know this isn't a misfortune?'

Indeed, his son, while riding one of these new horses, fell and broke his leg. His neighbors expressed their sympathy, but the old man again said, 'How do you know this isn't a blessing?'

Not long after, a war broke out, and all young men were conscripted into the army. Because of his broken leg, the old man's son was exempted from military service and thus avoided the perils of war.