Addison, Joseph (1672-1719) British writer and politician.
A friend of Addison’s with whom he was accustomed to having long discussions on topics of mutual interest borrowed some money from the author. Soon afterward Addison noticed a change in his behavior; before the loan the two friends had disagreed on a number of subjects, but now the borrower fell in with every line that Addison himself adopted. One day when they were talking on a point on which Addison knew his friend had previously held an opposite view to his own, he exclaimed, “Either contradict me, sir, or pay me my money!”
Something to keep in mind at the White House dinner tonight…
Courtesy of The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes, Clifton Fadiman, Editor.
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