Proverb from China

Chinese (Mandarin)

塞翁失马，焉知非福

Sài wēng shī mǎ, yān zhī fēi fú

“The old man at the frontier lost his horse; who could know it was not a blessing?”

Meaning

A setback can turn out to be good fortune.

Shown in simplified characters; the source prints it in traditional form, 塞翁失馬，焉知非福. The story comes from the Huainanzi (2nd century BC).

What is a proverb? A short, well-known, and memorable saying that expresses a common truth, practical experience, or piece of advice.