塞翁失馬
戰國時期，靠近北部邊城，住著一個姓塞老人, 他養了許多馬。
一天，他的一匹走失了，人們聽說這件事，跑來安慰他。
塞翁說：“沒準會帶來什麽福氣呢。”
過了幾個月，丟失的馬不僅自己回了家，還帶回一匹匈奴的駿馬。
所有人都來祝賀塞翁。
塞翁反而說：“這或許會帶來不幸呢。”
因為塞翁很富有，並且養馬養得很好，所以他的兒子也十分喜愛騎馬。但沒想到有一次騎馬時，他的兒子從馬上掉了下來，摔斷了腿。
人們於是又去安慰塞翁。但塞翁卻說：“也許這次又會帶來好運呢。”
一年以後，匈奴入侵邊境。
但是塞翁的兒子因為腿斷了便沒有被征入當兵隊伍之中，而其他很多當兵的青年都戰死在了沙場，塞翁的兒子因此保住了性命。
Near China's northern borders lived a man called Sai Weng. He raised a lot of horses.
One day, he lost one of his horses. Everyone commiserated with him.
"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said Sai Weng.
After a few months, his horse came back, leading a fine horse from the north.
Everyone congratulated him.
"Perhaps this may turn out to be a cause of misfortune," said Sai Weng.
Since he was well-off and kept good horses, his son became fond of riding and eventually broke his leg for falling from a horse.
Everyone commiserated with him. "Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.
One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border regions.
This man's son did not join in the fighting because he was crippled and so he survived.