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Parable of the farmer and his son

There once was a farmer and his son, and they had one horse. This horse was their only wealth.

One day during a storm the horse spooked and escaped the barn. After hearing of this, the neighbors came by and exclaimed, “Your horse, your only wealth has escaped, and now you have nothing. What a pity!”

And the farmer replied, “Well, could be good, could be bad. We’ll see.”

The next day the farmer’s son left on foot to try and find their horse. When he returned, he brought with him not only their horse, but a dozen other wild horses he wrangled on the way. The neighbors came over that evening, saying, “Your son has returned, and not just with your horse, but a dozen others! What good fortune!”

And the farmer replied, “Well, could be good, could be bad. We’ll see.”

The next day the farmer’s son was training one of the wild horses. The horse bucked him off and jumped on his legs, breaking them in several places.

That evening the neighbors came by saying, “Your son, your only breadwinner and heir, his legs are broken and now he cannot earn a keep for you! What a pity!”

And the farmer replied, “Well, could be good, could be bad. We’ll see.”

A week later the army arrived in the village declaring their province under attack, conscripting every able-bodied young man to join in the war effort. Because his son’s legs were broken, he could not go off and fight. Meanwhile, all of their sons were drafted and marched away.

The neighbors came over later that evening in great distress, exclaiming, “Your son is the only boy left in the village! Our sons have all gone to fight in the war and we fear they will die! How lucky you are!”

And the farmer replied, “Well, could be good, could be bad. We’ll see.”

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