One day Otto Hartleben fell ill and consulted a doctor. After a thorough examination, he was ordered to abstain from both tobacco and alcohol.
Hartleben promptly collected his hat and coat and headed for the door. "My advice," the doctor reminded him, "will cost you three marks." "Yes," Hartleben replied before disappearing, "but I'm not taking it!"
Sources
C. Fadiman, ed., Bartlett`s Anecdotes
