Ancient parable (From Internet)

There was a farmer who had a strong, hard-working horse. This horse could plough fields all day and carry heavy loads. The farmer's neighbours, who did not have such a prized animal, often said to him, "You're so lucky to have that horse." The farmer, going about his work, simply replied, "Maybe, maybe not."

Then one day, the farmer's horse broke through the farm gates and ran away, leaving the farmer without the animal that he had come to depend on. The farmer's neighbours said to him, "Gee, you're so unlucky that your horse ran away." The farmer, getting on with life without his horse, simply replied, "Maybe, maybe not."

A little while later, the farmer's horse came back with ten mares, all strong, fit and healthy. The farmer's neighbours gasped and said, "You're so lucky to now have 11 strong horses to work on your farm!" The farmer, grooming his 11 horses, simply replied, "Maybe, maybe not."

The farmer's only son decided to take a ride on one of the mares. On the way home, the mare bolted and threw the farmer's only son to the ground, crushing his legs, which became infected, and later leading the son into delirium, balancing on the brink of death. When the farmer's neighbours heard this, they said, "Oh no! Your only son is dying! You are so unlucky." The farmer, while aiding his son, simply replied, "Maybe, maybe not."

Before long, war was declared, and officials came to the village to draft the village's young men to serve in the army. Upon seeing the condition of the farmer's only son, the officials decided he could not fight, and so they did not draft him into the war. A few days later, the son's fever broke and he regained his health. The farmer's neighbours, whose sons had all been drafted into the terrible war, cried out to the farmer, "Oh, you are so lucky that your son did not have to go to war!" The farmer, while hugging his son, simply replied, "Maybe, maybe not."