Abuse Quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“Authors have a greater right than any copyright, though it is generally unacknowledged or disregarded. They have a right to the reader's civility. There are favorable hours for reading a book, as for writing it, and to these the author has a claim. Yet many people think that when they buy a book they buy with it the right to abuse the author.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Rights of Authors, 1865
Authors deserve respect and a share of the reader’s civility, not permission to be mistreated.
In simple terms: Authors deserve respect, not abuse.
Key Takeaway
Treat authors with courtesy.
Themes
respect
author rights
literature
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
ethical
literary
When to use this quote
- reading clubs
- publishing contracts
- literary criticism
- author events
Key Concepts
ethical responsibility
intellectual property
civility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can readers show civility toward authors?
- What obligations do publishers have to protect author dignity?
A Different Perspective
Readers may still exploit works despite moral claims.
