This is the Story of the Chinese Farmer as told by Alan Watts. It isn’t clear if this was originally a Chinese parable or invented by Alan Watts to make the point that it is really impossible to tell whether anything that happens is good or bad. The question I have is whether there are limits to this? Anway, enjoy the story.
Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer who lost a horse – [it] ran away.
And all the neighbours came around that evening and said, “That is too bad!”
And he said, “Maybe.”
The next day the horse came back, and brought seven wild horses with it. And all the neighbours came around and said, “Oh, that’s great, isn’t it?”
And he said, “Maybe.”
The next day, his son was attempting to tame one of the horses, and was thrown and broke his leg. And all the neighbours came around in the evening and said, “Well, that’s too bad, isn’t it?”
And he said, “Maybe.”
The next day the conscription officers came around looking for people for the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. And all the neighbours came around that evening and said, “Isn’t that wonderful!”
And he said, “Maybe.”
The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it is really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad — because you never know what will be the consequences of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.
— Alan Watts
