Anonymous

An old man lived in a small, poor village. He owned a horse. His neighbors would come to him and tell him how lucky it was that he had that horse because he could plow many more fields with it. Each time he would nod his head, and say: “Is that so?”

One day the horse ran away and his neighbors told him how unlucky he was that his horse had run away. Again, each time the old man would nod his head, and say: “Is that so?”

Then, the horse returned and a second horse was following. Now the old man had two horses and the neighbors said: “What good fortune that you have two horses!” Again, the old man just nodded his head, and said: “Is that so?”

Then, the old man’s son was plowing the field with the second horse, had an accident and broke his leg. The neighbors rushed over, saying “What misfortune that you had that second horse otherwise your son never would have broken his leg.” The old man nodded his head, and said: “Is that so?”

War erupted in the area. The leaders were drafting all the young men to fight. The old man’s son had a broken leg, so he couldn't go off to battle. The neighbors came again and told the old man how lucky he was that his son had broken his leg. Once again, the old man nodded his head and said: “Is that so?”

This story has no end.