One day General von Winterfeldt happened to encounter Frederick the Great in Potsdam. Though he had long ago fallen from the king's favor, Winterfeldt saluted him respectfully -- and was dismayed to find Frederick pointedly turning away.

"I am happy to see that Your Majesty is no longer angry with me," Winterfeldt declared. "How so?" Frederick demanded, turning again. "Because," Winterfeldt replied, "Your Majesty has never in his life turned his back on an enemy."

[Winterfeldt's wily reply soon led to a reconciliation.]