His neighbor asked the Hodja, “Do you have any thirty-year old vinegar?”
“I have,’ answered the Hodja.
“Would you give me some? I need it to prepare a medication,” said the man.
“No, I won’t,” replied the Hodja.
“Why not?” asked the man.
“Well, it’s just the principal of the matter,” replied the Hodja.
“What principle?” asked the man.
“The principle that if I had given vinegar to everyone who asked me, I wouldn’t have any thirty-year-old vinegar.”