A Buddhist parable:
A poor farmer whose only worldly possession is a mare wakes up one
morning to discover that the mare has gone. He runs to his parents'
house and breaks the terrible news. When he's finished, they ask, "Are
you sure it's bad news?"
"Of course it's bad news!" he replies, stomping angrily away.
Ten days later, his mare returns, bringing with her a magnificent
stallion.
The farmer runs to his parents and tells them the wonderful news.
"Are you sure it's good news?" they ask.
"Of course it's good news," he declares, leaving in a huff.
Days go by, and the farmer decides to try to break the stallion. He
bridles the beast, climbs on its back, and is promptly thrown to the
ground and trampled. The village doctor informs him that he will be a
cripple for life. When he can do so, he makes his way to his parents and
tells them the dreadful news.
"Are you sure it's bad news?" they reply.
He doesn't answer, but he mutters to himself all the way home. Two weeks
later, a detachment of the Emperor's army arrives to draft all the
able-bodied men of the village. Of course, they pass over the crippled
farmer. He hobbles to his parents' house to share his joy.
"Are you sure it's good news?" they ask.
-- quoted by Nick
Bromell in
"
Scooter and Me"
The American Scholar (December 1, 2006).