When Frederick the Great of Prussia built the Palace of Sans Souci, there happened to be a mill which greatly limited him in the execution of his plan. Frederick offered to pay the miller any sum he might demand for it, and besides to build him a mill in a better place. The miller, however, was determined to preserve the inheritance of his ancestors, and would not sell the mill.
Irritated at his resistance, the king sent for the miller, and said,"Do you know that I could take the mill without giving you a farthing?""Yes," replied the miller,"if it were not for the chamber of justice at Berlin."
The king was greatly flattered with this answer, which showed that he was incapable of an act of injustice. He dismissed the miller, and changed the plan of his palace.
普魯士腓特烈大帝興建逍遙宮，當地有個磨坊嚴重阻礙了建築計劃。腓特烈表示，磨坊主人要多少錢他都會買下，此外還答應選個更好地點為那人另建磨坊。可是，那人執意保存祖宗這分遺產，不肯出售。
腓特烈被拒，十分氣惱，召那人到跟前說：「你知道嗎，我不給你一毛錢，都可以取得那個磨坊。」那人回答：「不錯，柏林要是沒有司法機關，你可以這樣做。」
這回答令腓特烈十分高興，因為這等於說他不會做不正當的事。他打發那人離去，然後修改了逍遙宮的建築計劃。
（古德明）
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