--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reader has certain rights. He bought…" description: "\"The reader has certain rights. He bought your story. Think of this as an implicit contract. He's entitled to be entertained, instructed, amused; maybe ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/larry-niven-4263_amused_the-reader-has-certain-rights-he-bought_2905533.png" --- # The reader has certain rights. He bought your story. Think… ![“The reader has certain rights. He bought your story. Think of this as an implicit contract. He's entitled to be entertained, instructed, amused; maybe all three. If he quits in the middle, or puts the book down feeling his time has been wasted, you're in violation.” quote by Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/larry-niven-4263_amused_the-reader-has-certain-rights-he-bought_2905533.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/larry-niven-4263_amused_the-reader-has-certain-rights-he-bought_2905533.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fd/larry-niven-4263_amused_the-reader-has-certain-rights-he-bought_2905533.png) > “The reader has certain rights. He bought your story. Think of this as an implicit contract. He's entitled to be entertained, instructed, amused; maybe all three. If he quits in the middle, or puts the book down feeling his time has been wasted, you're in violation.” [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authors owe readers an implicit agreement to deliver value; failing to engage or inform breaches that trust. **In simple terms:** Readers deserve value for their time. Key Takeaway Respect the reader's expectations. Themes responsibility trust engagement Mood reflective serious Type advice ethical When to use this quote - novel writing - editing - marketing - public speaking Key Concepts contract theory audience expectation Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure entertainment value? - What can you do if a reader quits early? A Different Perspective Readers may still feel dissatisfied despite best efforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amused/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Bought Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bought-story-3998717/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Contract Entitled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contract-entitled-4155084/) [Contracts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contracts/) [Entitled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entitled/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Implicit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/implicit/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Puts Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puts-book-4155085/) [Quitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quitting/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Reader Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-certain-3069136/) [Reading and writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-and-writing/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Bought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-bought-4155086/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Violation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violation/) [Writers and writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-and-writing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing by writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-by-writers/) ## Related quotes > [No story ever looks as bad as the story you've just bought; no story ever looks as good as the story the other fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/no-story-ever-looks-as-bad-as-the-story-you-ve-just-bought-no-story/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [“Depth is not something the writer puts into a book; it's something the reader takes out of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-carroll/depth-is-not-something-the-writer-puts-into-a-book-it-s-something-the/) [Michael Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-carroll/) > [There's a contract that I make between myself, the author, and the reader. I have to figure out how to give the reader certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-s-a-contract-that-i-make-between-myself-the-author-and-the/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [The reader has to be creative when he's reading. He has to try to make the thing alive. A good reader has to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalie-sarraute/the-reader-has-to-be-creative-when-he-s-reading-he-has-to-try-to-make/) [Nathalie Sarraute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalie-sarraute/) > [My ideal relationship with the reader is that at certain points they will have said, 'I'm finding this quite tough, but I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/my-ideal-relationship-with-the-reader-is-that-at-certain-points-they/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [Of one thing the reader can be certain: the more easily anything reads, the harder it has been to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roberts-rinehart/of-one-thing-the-reader-can-be-certain-the-more-easily-anything-reads/) [Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roberts-rinehart/) > [You learn by writing short stories. Keep writing short stories. The money's in novels, but writing short stories keeps your writing lean and pointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/you-learn-by-writing-short-stories-keep-writing-short-stories-the/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Most writers can write books faster than publishers can write checks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-curtis/most-writers-can-write-books-faster-than-publishers-can-write-checks/) [Richard Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-curtis/) > [Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/write-freely-and-as-rapidly-as-possible-and-throw-the-whole-thing-on/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [There are no dull subjects. There are only dull writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/there-are-no-dull-subjects-there-are-only-dull-writers/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [How to read writers on writing: With respect, amusement, and skepticism. They will contradict one another-as they should-for each writer brings an individual history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-murray/how-to-read-writers-on-writing-with-respect-amusement-and-skepticism/) [Donald Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-murray/) > [All the words I use in my stories can be found in the dictionary-it's just a matter of arranging them into the right sentences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/all-the-words-i-use-in-my-stories-can-be-found-in-the-dictionary-it-s/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Science fiction writers, I am sorry to say, really do not know anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/science-fiction-writers-i-am-sorry-to-say-really-do-not-know-anything/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The first sentence cant be written until the final sentence is written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-first-sentence-cant-be-written-until-the-final-sentence-is-written/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [I think writer's block is simply the dread that you are going to write something horrible. But as a writer, I believe that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blount-jr/i-think-writer-s-block-is-simply-the-dread-that-you-are-going-to/) [Roy Blount, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blount-jr/) ## More by Larry Niven > [“Once Louis Wu had sworn to live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/once-louis-wu-had-sworn-to-live-forever/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [In challenging a kzin, a simple scream of rage is sufficient. You scream and you leap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/in-challenging-a-kzin-a-simple-scream-of-rage-is-sufficient-you/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“There is no cause so good or noble that it will not attract fuggheads; and the fuggheads will get all the press.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/there-is-no-cause-so-good-or-noble-that-it-will-not-attract-fuggheads/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Music had played suddenly through the cabin, complex and lovely, rich in minor tones, like the sad call of a sex-maddened computer. Nessus whistled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/music-had-played-suddenly-through-the-cabin-complex-and-lovely-rich/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“This place is a playground for a questing mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/this-place-is-a-playground-for-a-questing-mind/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“have precious little free will," he was saying. "We're too intelligent not to see the right answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/have-precious-little-free-will-he-was-saying-we-re-too-intelligent/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“1a) Never throw shit at an armed man. 1b) Never stand next to someone who is throwing shit at an armed man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/1a-never-throw-shit-at-an-armed-man-1b-never-stand-next-to-someone/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [We learn only to ask more questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/we-learn-only-to-ask-more-questions/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Everything starts as somebody's dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/everything-starts-as-somebody-s-dream/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“I asked him, "Do you know the difference between nude and naked?" He shook his head. "Nude is artistic. Naked is defenseless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/i-asked-him-do-you-know-the-difference-between-nude-and-naked-he/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Intelligence is just a tool to be used toward a goal, and goals are not always chosen intelligently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/intelligence-is-just-a-tool-to-be-used-toward-a-goal-and-goals-are/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [And every friend I've got has been writing Mars stories. It was pretty clear I'd never catch up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/and-every-friend-i-ve-got-has-been-writing-mars-stories-it-was-pretty/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [For each human being there is an optimum ratio between change and stasis. Too little change, he grows bored. Too little stability, he panics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/for-each-human-being-there-is-an-optimum-ratio-between-change-and/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Anything beats an expensive stack of paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/anything-beats-an-expensive-stack-of-paper/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Humans," said the puppeteer, "should not be allowed to run loose. You will surely harm yourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/humans-said-the-puppeteer-should-not-be-allowed-to-run-loose-you-will/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) [Explore all 112 Larry Niven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) ## More Amused quotes > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [The writer's Queen Victoria is his public, and he would do well to keep a bust of the old Queen on his desk with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-watson-fowler/the-writer-s-queen-victoria-is-his-public-and-he-would-do-well-to/) [Henry Watson Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-watson-fowler/) > [I have been much amused at ye singular phenomena resulting from bringing of a needle into contact with a piece of amber or resin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-have-been-much-amused-at-ye-singular-phenomena-resulting-from/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [I have found that the key to being happy — well, one of the keys, anyway — is to be easily amused,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wil-wheaton/i-have-found-that-the-key-to-being-happy-well-one-of-the-keys-anyway/) [Wil Wheaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wil-wheaton/) > [Global warming ... may be a plaintiff lawyer's dream. And it's interesting, in a perverse way, to imagine how a jury in 2050 might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ignatius/global-warming-may-be-a-plaintiff-lawyer-s-dream-and-it-s-interesting/) [David Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ignatius/) > [Most poetry is the utterance of a man in some state of passion, love, joy, grief, rage, etc., and no doubt this is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/most-poetry-is-the-utterance-of-a-man-in-some-state-of-passion-love/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [I am too old to have ever been very worried about what "genre" any given book of mine might be. I read everything. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-am-too-old-to-have-ever-been-very-worried-about-what-genre-any/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [ \[The doctrine of air\] I was led into in consequence of inhabiting a house adjoining to a public brewery, where I at first amused… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-priestley/the-doctrine-of-air-i-was-led-into-in-consequence-of-inhabiting-a/) [Joseph Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-priestley/) > [“Well at least your awake," he sighs "You had me worried." "Get your hands away from me." He waves sheathed fingers in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/well-at-least-your-awake-he-sighs-you-had-me-worried-get-your-hands/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“You." I gasped. "Me," he agreed, amused.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-berry/you-i-gasped-me-he-agreed-amused/) [Julie Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-berry/) > [“From the corner of her eyes, Arima could see Leyla putting a hand over her mouth to muffle her giggles, and Myddrin had an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beerden/from-the-corner-of-her-eyes-arima-could-see-leyla-putting-a-hand-over/) [Stephanie Beerden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beerden/) > [A tattered copy of Johnson's large Dictionary was a great delight to me, on account of the specimens of English versifications which I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-larcom/a-tattered-copy-of-johnson-s-large-dictionary-was-a-great-delight-to/) [Lucy Larcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-larcom/) > [“I can but just recollect having been amused at the Theatres, and the Opera, and the Pantheon, and Ranelagh, and all those places, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/i-can-but-just-recollect-having-been-amused-at-the-theatres-and-the/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) [Browse all 237 Amused quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amused/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The reader has certain rights. 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