He Who Says 'I Know', Knows NOT
The Wisest Man In The World
Many years ago a wise peasant farmer lived in China .
He had a son who, though an idiot, was the gleam in his eyes - he certainly
adored the boy as only a parent can. He also had one horse - a beautiful horse, which was not only his favorite and beloved
possession, but also the workhorse for the farm.
One day the idiot son left the corral gate open and the horse escaped
from his grounds and disappeared into the mountains outside the village.
The villagers came to him one by one and announced their condolences.
They said, "You are such an unlucky man. It is such bad fortune”"
The peasant answered, "Who knows. Maybe it's bad luck, maybe it's good fortune."
The neighbors shrugged and left.
The next day the horse returned, followed by twelve wild horses who followed
him into the corral; the farmer noticed this, smiled, and securely locked the corral gate, warning his son, "please dear boy,
do NOT leave the gate unlocked again". The boy promised to do his best.
The same neighborly people returned and told our wise man about how lucky
he was. "It's such great good
fortune”!
The wise man replied once more, "Who knows. Maybe it's good fortune, maybe
it is not. Who knows”?
As it happened, the next day his one and only son was attempting to break
in one of the wild horses when the horse threw the boy and the boy broke his leg.
Once more everyone came to console him. They said, "It's so bad."
Again the farmer replied, ""Who knows. Maybe it's bad, maybe it's good."
Three days passed and his poor idiot son was limping around the village
with his broken leg, when the emperor's army entered the village announcing that a war was starting and they conscripted all
the young men of the village for a suicidal battle against overwhelming odds. However, they left the son since he had a broken
leg.
Once more, everyone was so jealous of our wise man. They surrounded him
talking about his shier luck. "It is so good for you," they said. He answered all thus, ""Who knows. Maybe it's wonderful,
maybe it's terrible. WHO KNOWS"?
And obviously - the story goes on - forever.
Who claims to know, knows NOT. – Ancient saying
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