"Better To Let The Guilty Walk"

Frederick II, the eighteenth-century king of Prussia,
fancied himself an enlightened monarch, and in some
respects he was. On one occasion he is supposed to
have interested himself in conditions in the Berlin
prison and was escorted through it so that he might
speak to the prisoners. One after the other, the
prisoners fell to their knees before him, bewailing
their lot and, predictably, protesting their utter
innocence of all charges that had been brought
against them.

Only one prisoner remained silent, and finally
Frederick's curiosity was aroused.

"You," he called. "You there."

The prisoner looked up. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Why are you here?"

"Armed robbery, Your Majesty."

"And are you guilty?"

"Entirely guilty, Your Majesty. I richly deserve my
punishment."

At this Frederick rapped his cane sharply on the
ground and said, "Warden, release this guilty
wretch at once. I will not have him here in jail
where by example he will corrupt all the splendid
innocent people who occupy it."


Source: Isaac Asimov