The man had four sons and sent each one in a different season to look at a pear tree in the distance. The first son saw it in winter and said it was ugly, while the second in spring said it was covered in buds with promise. The third in summer saw it laden with beautiful blossoms, and the youngest in fall saw it drooping with ripe fruit. The man explained that they were all right because each only saw one season, and the true essence of the tree is measured when seeing all the seasons together.