--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A presentation copy, reader,-if haply you…" description: "\"A presentation copy, reader,-if haply you are yet innocent of such favours-is a copy of a book which does not sell, sent you by the author.\" — Charles ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/charles-lamb-1144_book_a-presentation-copy-reader-if-haply-you_3170843.jpg" --- # A presentation copy, reader,-if haply you are yet innocent… ![“A presentation copy, reader,-if haply you are yet innocent of such favours-is a copy of a book which does not sell, sent you by the author.” quote by Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/charles-lamb-1144_book_a-presentation-copy-reader-if-haply-you_3170843.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/charles-lamb-1144_book_a-presentation-copy-reader-if-haply-you_3170843.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/charles-lamb-1144_book_a-presentation-copy-reader-if-haply-you_3170843.jpg) > “A presentation copy, reader,-if haply you are yet innocent of such favours-is a copy of a book which does not sell, sent you by the author.” [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer offers a low‑value book to a naive reader as a favor, highlighting the mismatch between effort and reward. **In simple terms:** A useless book given as a favor. Key Takeaway Beware of gifts that lack true value. Themes literature irony value relationships Mood skeptical reflective Type literary ironic When to use this quote - publishing - personal relationships - education - marketing Key Concepts gift economy social exchange trust exploitation Questions to Reflect On - Do you accept favors without questioning their usefulness? - How do you assess the true value of a gift? A Different Perspective The “favor” may hide ulterior motives or waste time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Copies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copies/) [Copy Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copy-book-723753/) [Copy Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copy-reader-5771020/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Favour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favour/) [Favours Copy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favours-copy-5771022/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Innocent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent/) [Presentation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presentation/) [Presentation Copy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presentation-copy-723751/) [Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishing/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Sells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sells/) [Sent Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sent-author-5771021/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [A presentation copy...is a copy of a book whoch does not sell, sent you by the author, with his foolish autograph at the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-presentation-copy-is-a-copy-of-a-book-whoch-does-not-sell-sent-you/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [People who need to possess the physical copy of a book, and not merely an electronic version, are in some sense mysteics. We believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-queenan/people-who-need-to-possess-the-physical-copy-of-a-book-and-not-merely/) [Joe Queenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-queenan/) > [There are people already sharing eBooks out there, .. and they do it simply because they love books. You don't buy a second copy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/there-are-people-already-sharing-ebooks-out-there-and-they-do-it/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [I actually own a copy of my own book; that's how dedicated I am as an author.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-actually-own-a-copy-of-my-own-book-that-s-how-dedicated-i-am-as-an/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [“I'm the type of girl who will buy a third copy of the same book just because it is an older edition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-mihaila/i-m-the-type-of-girl-who-will-buy-a-third-copy-of-the-same-book-just/) [T.J. Mihaila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-mihaila/) > [Thank you for sending me a copy of your book - I'll waste no time reading it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-hadas/thank-you-for-sending-me-a-copy-of-your-book-i-ll-waste-no-time/) [Moses Hadas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-hadas/) > [I have a very big apartment in Paris but you can't really move around there anymore; piles of books everywhere. I don't want any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lindbergh/i-have-a-very-big-apartment-in-paris-but-you-can-t-really-move-around/) [Peter Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lindbergh/) > [When Any Women Ask Me For A Free Copy Of My Book, I Say Lets Do A SOD Sex On Delivery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/when-any-women-ask-me-for-a-free-copy-of-my-book-i-say-lets-do-a-sod/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [Bridge the gap with closed minds though careful dissection of ideas and solid presentation of fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/bridge-the-gap-with-closed-minds-though-careful-dissection-of-ideas/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [Keep the customer actively involved throughout your presentation, and watch your results improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/keep-the-customer-actively-involved-throughout-your-presentation-and/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [“He "had developed a trick in college for speaking with authority. He believed that breaking his argument into numbers forced people to pay attention.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-had-developed-a-trick-in-college-for-speaking-with-authority-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The very best financial presentation is one that's well thought out and anticipates any questions... answering them in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/the-very-best-financial-presentation-is-one-that-s-well-thought-out/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [“A great magician is not more magical than other magicians; he is just more magical in his presentation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-great-magician-is-not-more-magical-than-other-magicians-he-is-just/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Consistent style prevents presentation from getting in the way of content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/consistent-style-prevents-presentation-from-getting-in-the-way-of/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When you really need help, people will respond. Sincerity means dropping the image facade and showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Tell it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-you-really-need-help-people-will-respond-sincerity-means/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) ## More by Charles Lamb > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [In the indications of female poverty there can be no disguise. No woman dresses below herself from caprice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/in-the-indications-of-female-poverty-there-can-be-no-disguise-no/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [To sigh, yet feel no pain; To weep, yet scarce know why; To sport an hour with Beauty's chain, Then throw it idly by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/to-sigh-yet-feel-no-pain-to-weep-yet-scarce-know-why-to-sport-an-hour/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [“I love to lose myself in other men's minds. When I am not walking, I am reading.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/i-love-to-lose-myself-in-other-men-s-minds-when-i-am-not-walking-i-am/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [While childhood, and while dreams, producing childhood, shall be left, imagination shall not have spread her holy wings totally to fly the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/while-childhood-and-while-dreams-producing-childhood-shall-be-left/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Man, while he loves, is never quite depraved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/man-while-he-loves-is-never-quite-depraved/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Summer, as my friend Coleridge waggishly writes, has set in with its usual severity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/summer-as-my-friend-coleridge-waggishly-writes-has-set-in-with-its/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Here cometh April again, and as far as I can see the world hath more fools in it than ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/here-cometh-april-again-and-as-far-as-i-can-see-the-world-hath-more/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [A presentation copy...is a copy of a book whoch does not sell, sent you by the author, with his foolish autograph at the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-presentation-copy-is-a-copy-of-a-book-whoch-does-not-sell-sent-you/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I counsel thee, shut not thy heart, nor thy library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/i-counsel-thee-shut-not-thy-heart-nor-thy-library/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Nothing to me is more distasteful than that entire complacency and satisfaction which beam in the countenances of a new married couple; in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/nothing-to-me-is-more-distasteful-than-that-entire-complacency-and/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [My theory is to enjoy life, but the practice is against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/my-theory-is-to-enjoy-life-but-the-practice-is-against-it/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/all-all-are-gone-the-old-familiar-faces/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Those evening bells! those evening bells! How many a tale their music tells Of youth and home, and that sweet time When last I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/those-evening-bells-those-evening-bells-how-many-a-tale-their-music/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Beholding heaven, and feeling hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/beholding-heaven-and-feeling-hell/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) [Explore all 283 Charles Lamb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A presentation copy, reader,-if haply you are yet innocent of such favours-is a copy of a book which does not sell, sent you by the author.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Lamb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-presentation-copy-reader-if-haply-you-are-yet-innocent-of-such/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-presentation-copy-reader-if-haply-you-are-yet-innocent-of-such/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/charles-lamb-1144_book_a-presentation-copy-reader-if-haply-you_3170843.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/charles-lamb-1144_book_a-presentation-copy-reader-if-haply-you_3170843.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/charles-lamb-1144_book_a-presentation-copy-reader-if-haply-you_3170843.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A presentation copy, reader,-if haply you are yet innocent of such favours-is a copy of a book which does…” — Charles Lamb", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charles Lamb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A presentation copy, reader,-if haply you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-presentation-copy-reader-if-haply-you-are-yet-innocent-of-such/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-presentation-copy-reader-if-haply-you-are-yet-innocent-of-such/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```