塞翁失马
战国时期，靠近北部边城，住着一个姓塞老人, 他养了许多马。
一天，他的一匹走失了，人们听说这件事，跑来安慰他。
塞翁说：“没准会带来什么福气呢。”
过了几个月，丢失的马不仅自己回了家，还带回一匹匈奴的骏马。
所有人都来祝贺塞翁。
塞翁反而说：“这或许会带来不幸呢。”
因为塞翁很富有，并且养马养得很好，所以他的儿子也十分喜爱骑马。但没想到有一次骑马时，他的儿子从马上掉了下来，摔断了腿。
人们于是又去安慰塞翁。但塞翁却说：“也许这次又会带来好运呢。”
一年以后，匈奴入侵边境。
但是塞翁的儿子因为腿断了便没有被征入当兵队伍之中，而其他很多当兵的青年都战死在了沙场，塞翁的儿子因此保住了性命。
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.