塞翁失马 (sài wēng shī mǎ): lit. the old man lost his horse, but it all turned out for the best; fig. a blessing in disguise; it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good

sàiwēngshī

lit. the old man lost his horse, but it all turned out for the best; fig. a blessing in disguise; it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good

The old man's horse ran off, came back with another, threw his son, whose broken leg then kept him from the war. Said when a setback may not be one.