戰(zhàn)國時(shí)期，靠近北部邊城，住著一個(gè)老人，名叫塞翁。塞翁養(yǎng)了許多馬，一天，他的馬群中忽然有一匹走失了。鄰居們聽說這件事，跑來安慰，勸他不必太著急，年齡大了，多注意身體。塞翁見有人勸慰，笑了笑說：“丟了一匹馬損失不大，沒準(zhǔn)會(huì)帶來什么福氣呢。”

　　鄰居聽了塞翁的話，心里覺得很好笑。馬丟了，明明是件壞事，他卻認(rèn)為也許是好事，顯然是自我安慰而已。過了幾天，丟失的馬不僅自動(dòng)返回家，還帶回一匹匈奴的駿馬。

　　鄰居聽說了，對(duì)塞翁的預(yù)見非常佩服，向塞翁道賀說：“還是您有遠(yuǎn)見，馬不僅沒有丟，還帶回一匹好馬，真是福氣呀。”

　　塞翁聽了鄰人的祝賀，反而一點(diǎn)高興的樣子都沒有，憂慮地說：“白白得了一匹好馬，不一定是什么福氣，也許惹出什么麻煩來。”

　　鄰居們以為他故作姿態(tài)純屬老年人的狡猾。心里明明高興，有意不說出來。

　　??塞翁有個(gè)獨(dú)生子，非常喜歡騎馬。他發(fā)現(xiàn)帶回來的那匹馬顧盼生姿，身長蹄大，嘶鳴嘹亮，膘悍神駿，一看就知道是匹好馬。他每天都騎馬出游，心中洋洋得意。

　　??一天，他高興得有些過火，打馬飛奔，一個(gè)趔趄，從馬背上跌下來，摔斷了腿。鄰居聽說，紛紛來慰問。

　　??塞翁說：“沒什么，腿摔斷了卻保住性命，或許是福氣呢。”鄰居們覺得他又在胡言亂語。他們想不出，摔斷腿會(huì)帶來什么福氣。

　　??不久，匈奴兵大舉入侵，青年人被應(yīng)征入伍，塞翁的兒子因?yàn)樗�斷了腿，不能去�?dāng)兵。入伍的青年都戰(zhàn)死了，唯有塞翁的兒子保全了性命。

　　Near China's northern borders lived a man well versed in the practices of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all, got 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 good horses his son became fond of riding and eventually broke his thigh bone 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. All able-bodied 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 so both the boy and his father survived.