American congressmen Henry Clay and John Randolph had had a violent quarrel in the Senate. For a long time they did not speak when they encountered each other outside.
It chanced one day that they found themselves confronted by each other at a very narrow point created by repairs under way on the sidewalk. They stood silently for a moment, faced by the question of who was to step aside and let the other pass.
At last Randolph said haughtily, "I never make way for scoundrels."
"I always do," said Clay, stepping politely out into the mud, giving Randolph the right of way.*
美國國會議員亨利．克萊和約翰．藍多夫在參議院內，激烈吵了一場。此後，兩人國會之外相遇，互不理睬，長期如是。
有一天，由於人行道正在修理，他們不巧相逢於狹路，兩人一言不發，相對而立，都在想誰應站到一旁，讓對方走過。
最後，藍多夫傲然說：「我從來不讓路給流氓。」
克萊說：「我剛剛相反。」他一副彬彬有禮樣子，站到一旁的泥濘上，讓藍多夫走過。
*Right of way可以指交通上的先行權，也可指私有土地上的通行權，例如：There is a public right of way through the private housing estate（公眾有權在這私人屋邨裏走過）。