The Parable of The Chinese Farmer

Many years ago, a Chinese farmer lived deep in the countryside with his family. He had a single horse to help him plough the fields and carry grain and a single son to help him farm. One day, the farmer's son left the gate open, and they awoke to find that the horse had run away. Despite searching everywhere, they couldn't find the horse.

When the farmer met his friends later that evening and shared the news, they were sympathetic and said, "Oh, that's terrible. We're so sorry for you. That's such bad news." The farmer replied, "Maybe."

The following day, the farmer and his son continued their search for the horse. They finally found the horse grazing with a group of other horses. The farmer's son approached the horse, patted its nose, took the bridle and led it back to the farm. As he did so, the other horses followed and, when they arrived back, followed the horse into the paddock. The farmer closed the gate behind them, enclosing them in the paddock. The friends were amazed when they met that evening and told the farmer, "You're so lucky." Again, the farmer responded, "Maybe."

A day later, while breaking in one of the wild stallions that had returned with the farmer's horse, the horse bucked and threw the farmer's son off, breaking his leg. At their night's gathering, his friends remarked, "Oh my, that's so unlucky." The farmer replied calmly, "Maybe."

The day after, the Chinese army marched through a nearby valley to fight a great battle with the Mongols. They visited the farm searching for young men to conscript into the army. The farmer explained that his son had broken his leg and couldn't join the battle. The officers checked his leg and left. When his friends learned this, they said to the farmer. "You are so lucky! Your son has been spared from conscription. The farmer smiled and responded, "Maybe."