A Chinese fable

Blessing or Bane

Near china’s northern borders lived a man who is well versed in the practices of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all , ran into the territory of the northern tribes. Everyone commiserated with him.

“Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing,” said his father.

After a few months, his animal came back, leading a fine horse from the north. Everyone congratulated him.

“Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a cause of misfortune,” said his father.

Since he was well-off and kept that good horse, his son became like to ride and eventually broke his thighbone falling from a horse. Everyone commiserated with him.

“Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a cause of misfortune,” said his father.

One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border regions. All strong young men took up arms and fought against the invaders, and as a result, around the border nine out of ten men died. This man’s son did not join in the fighting because he was crippled and both the boy and his father survived.

This Chinese fable is very popular and very little children know it in China. Its moral is to caution people facing everything you meet in a placid mood. Sometimes the felicities you get will become a cause of misfortune, however sometimes your adversity will turn into a beginning of your luck. In our life, we will go through lot of unexpected things, for better of worse we should treat them composedly.