Agents Quote by George Bernard Shaw
““An author who gives a manager or publisher any rights in his work except those immediately and specifically required for its publication or performance is for business purposes an imbecile.””
About This Quote
Source Play: Man and Superman, 1905
An author who gives away all rights except those needed for publication is foolish in business.
In simple terms: Giving away rights is a business mistake.
Key Takeaway
Protect your creative rights.
Themes
intellectual property
author rights
publishing
business acumen
creative control
Mood
cautious
pragmatic
critical
Type
advisory
practical
When to use this quote
- publishing contracts
- self‑publishing
- author negotiations
- literary estates
- creative entrepreneurship
Key Concepts
contract law
economics of publishing
creative industries
Questions to Reflect On
- Which rights are essential to retain?
- How to balance exposure and control?
A Different Perspective
Some rights may be necessary to share work widely.
![“Stupid. Stupid. Foaly, we are both imbeciles. I don't expect lateral thinking from the LEP, but from you..." ... "What is it?" [Holly] asked, afraid of the answer, which must surely be terrible. "Yeah," agreed Foaly, who always had time to feel insulted. "Why am I an imbecile?” quote by Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8bb/eoin-colfer-736_answers_stupid-stupid-foaly-we-are-both-imbecile_956653.jpg)
![“I don't see [ Trainspotting ] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've got a good agent, I've got a good manager, I'm getting a lot of work out there and doing a lot of stuff - getting a lot of film projects on the go.” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/918/irvine-welsh-843_agents_i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatros_7750.jpg)
