My Favorite Fable
The fable illustrates the unpredictability of fortune through the experiences of a farmer and his horse. Each event, whether perceived as good or bad, is met with the farmer's calm response of 'We'll see.' Ultimately, the story suggests that outcomes are not always as clear-cut as they seem.
- ▪A farmer's horse ran away, prompting neighbors to express sympathy.
- ▪The horse returned with twenty wild horses, leading to a perceived good fortune.
- ▪The farmer's son was injured by a wild horse, but this spared him from being drafted in a war.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
My favorite fable 2009-02-28 A farmer had only one horse. One day, his horse ran away. His neighbors said, “I’m so sorry. This is such bad news. You must be so upset.” The man just said, “We’ll see.” A few days later, his horse came back with twenty wild horses following. The man and his son corralled all twenty-one horses. His neighbors said, “Congratulations! This is such good news. You must be so happy!” The man just said, “We’ll see.” One of the wild horses kicked the man’s only son, breaking both his legs. His neighbors said, “I’m so sorry. This is such bad news. You must be so upset.” The man just said, “We’ll see.” The country went to war, and every able-bodied young man was drafted to fight.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Derek Sivers.
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