A father sent his four sons each to look at a pear tree in a different season to teach them not to judge things too quickly based on a single experience. The first son saw the tree in winter and thought it was ugly, while the second in spring saw it as promising. The third in summer saw it in full beautiful blossom, and the fourth in fall saw it ripe with fruit. Their father explained that they were all right because each saw the tree in a different season, and one must experience all seasons to fully understand something or someone.