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. 戰國時期，靠近北部邊城，住着一個老人，名叫塞翁。塞翁養了許多馬，一天，他的馬羣中忽然有一匹走失了。鄰居們聽說這件事，跑來安慰，勸他不必太着急，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，沒準會帶來什麼福氣呢。” 鄰居聽了塞翁的話，心裏覺得很好笑。馬丟了，明明是件壞事，他卻認爲也許是好事，顯然是自我安慰而已。過了幾天，丟失的馬不僅自動返回家，還帶回一匹匈奴的駿馬。 鄰居聽說了，對塞翁的預見非常佩服，向塞翁道賀說：“還是您有遠見，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，不一定是什麼福氣，也許惹出什麼麻煩來。” 鄰居們以爲他故作姿態純屬老年人的狡猾。心裏明明高興，有意不說出來。 塞翁有個獨生子，非常喜歡騎馬。他發現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。他每天都騎馬出遊，心中洋洋得意。 一天，他高興得有些過火，打馬飛奔，一個趔趄，從馬背上跌下來，摔斷了腿。鄰居聽說，紛紛來慰問。 塞翁說：“沒什麼，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，摔斷腿會帶來什麼福氣。 不久，匈奴兵大舉入侵，青年人被應徵入伍，塞翁的兒子因爲摔斷了腿，不能去當兵。入伍的青年都戰死了，唯有塞翁的兒子保全了性命。
