--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you are reading, someone has done a…" description: "\"When you are reading, someone has done a lot of work on your behalf, someone has had ideas and has then written and corrected and improved them so that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/margaret-mahy-9662_behalf_when-you-are-reading-someone-has-done-a_1950299.jpg" --- # When you are reading, someone has done a lot of work on… ![“When you are reading, someone has done a lot of work on your behalf, someone has had ideas and has then written and corrected and improved them so that they can be shared.” quote by Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/margaret-mahy-9662_behalf_when-you-are-reading-someone-has-done-a_1950299.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/margaret-mahy-9662_behalf_when-you-are-reading-someone-has-done-a_1950299.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/margaret-mahy-9662_behalf_when-you-are-reading-someone-has-done-a_1950299.jpg) > “When you are reading, someone has done a lot of work on your behalf, someone has had ideas and has then written and corrected and improved them so that they can be shared.” [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading is a collaborative effort, built on many people's ideas and revisions before reaching you. **In simple terms:** Reading relies on others' work. Key Takeaway Appreciate the collective labor behind books. Themes literature collaboration education Mood reflective grateful Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - classroom discussions - book clubs - author interviews - library programs Key Concepts authorship revision knowledge transfer Questions to Reflect On - Who contributed most to your favorite book? - How does this awareness affect your reading? A Different Perspective Not all readers consider the behind‑the‑scenes work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) ## Related quotes > [It doesn't matter what party you come from. The key thing is that you work on behalf of the people rather than on behalf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/it-doesn-t-matter-what-party-you-come-from-the-key-thing-is-that-you/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [What we're trying to do every day is make policy and work on behalf of the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-psaki/what-we-re-trying-to-do-every-day-is-make-policy-and-work-on-behalf/) [Jen Psaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-psaki/) > [“As an entrepreneur in India put it: 'Indians have learned from painful experience that the state does not work on behalf of the people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/as-an-entrepreneur-in-india-put-it-indians-have-learned-from-painful/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [But don't forget my ideas are only what's been written down in history by the great people of the world who've gone before. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-cerutty/but-don-t-forget-my-ideas-are-only-what-s-been-written-down-in/) [Percy Cerutty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-cerutty/) > [“Writing is not about ideas, it is about the expression of ideas - a written expression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-raymond-martin/writing-is-not-about-ideas-it-is-about-the-expression-of-ideas-a/) Paul Raymond Martin > [You see a lot of good ideas or well-written scripts that are bad ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mctiernan/you-see-a-lot-of-good-ideas-or-well-written-scripts-that-are-bad-ideas/) [John McTiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mctiernan/) > [I've always found that working through ideas in written form really changes the thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/i-ve-always-found-that-working-through-ideas-in-written-form-really/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [I have ideas written down some places, but usually I can't find them. I'm not very organized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-have-ideas-written-down-some-places-but-usually-i-can-t-find-them-i/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Antitrust law isn't about protecting competing businesses from each other, it's about protecting competition itself on behalf of the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/antitrust-law-isn-t-about-protecting-competing-businesses-from-each/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [I don't expect anybody here to cheerlead for Donald Trump. I expect us to have platforms like this, where we can fairly and effectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/i-don-t-expect-anybody-here-to-cheerlead-for-donald-trump-i-expect-us/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [Having children, they're not your property. They need to figure out their own views. I think my daughters have a pretty healthy self-awareness, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/having-children-they-re-not-your-property-they-need-to-figure-out/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/adults-look-upon-a-child-as-something-empty-that-is-to-be-filled/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Nonviolent tactics can move into action on our behalf men not naturally inclined to act for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/nonviolent-tactics-can-move-into-action-on-our-behalf-men-not/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) ## More by Margaret Mahy > [In a way, the characters often do take over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/in-a-way-the-characters-often-do-take-over/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [When you are writing, of course, you have to do all that writing and correcting for yourself. When I was a librarian it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/when-you-are-writing-of-course-you-have-to-do-all-that-writing-and/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“All right," said Eden. "After all, we've got to hide somewhere. And even if they move on a bit faster than we can, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/all-right-said-eden-after-all-we-ve-got-to-hide-somewhere-and-even-if/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [a man who builds a house never really dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/a-man-who-builds-a-house-never-really-dies/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Anyone interested in the world generally can't help being interested in young adult culture - in the music, the bands, the books, the fashions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/anyone-interested-in-the-world-generally-can-t-help-being-interested/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“I don't know everything I feel, but I do know this. You mustn't ever want anyone but me, Big Science. If you look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/i-don-t-know-everything-i-feel-but-i-do-know-this-you-mustn-t-ever/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [I, personally, have found reading a continual support to writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/i-personally-have-found-reading-a-continual-support-to-writing/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“Stamp, your name is to be Laura. I'm sharing my name with you. I'm putting my power into you and you must do my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/stamp-your-name-is-to-be-laura-i-m-sharing-my-name-with-you-i-m/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Reading is very creative - it's not just a passive thing. I write a story; it goes out into the world; somebody reads it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/reading-is-very-creative-it-s-not-just-a-passive-thing-i-write-a/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“Fattening!” said Troy, looking at Tabitha’s round face and plump arms. “If I don’t mind being fat, I don’t see why other people should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/fattening-said-troy-looking-at-tabitha-s-round-face-and-plump-arms-if/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Ellis's understanding of himself and the world around him certainly develops because of his adventures, and part of that development comes through recognizing other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/ellis-s-understanding-of-himself-and-the-world-around-him-certainly/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [Being a librarian certainly helped me with my writing because it made me even more of a reader, and I was always an enthusiastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/being-a-librarian-certainly-helped-me-with-my-writing-because-it-made/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [It can certainly happen that characters in more sophisticated stories can ake over as they develop and change the author's original ideas. Well, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/it-can-certainly-happen-that-characters-in-more-sophisticated-stories/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [I was able to work out all sorts of attitudes to style and event and character, all of which affected the way I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/i-was-able-to-work-out-all-sorts-of-attitudes-to-style-and-event-and/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [“These were true things, Laura knew, but they were only part of the truth which was something less orderly than Kate made it sound.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/these-were-true-things-laura-knew-but-they-were-only-part-of-the/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) [Explore all 71 Margaret Mahy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) ## More Behalf quotes > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [Nonviolent tactics can move into action on our behalf men not naturally inclined to act for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-deming/nonviolent-tactics-can-move-into-action-on-our-behalf-men-not/) [Barbara Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-deming/) > [Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/adults-look-upon-a-child-as-something-empty-that-is-to-be-filled/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Having children, they're not your property. They need to figure out their own views. I think my daughters have a pretty healthy self-awareness, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/having-children-they-re-not-your-property-they-need-to-figure-out/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [I don't expect anybody here to cheerlead for Donald Trump. I expect us to have platforms like this, where we can fairly and effectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellyanne-conway/i-don-t-expect-anybody-here-to-cheerlead-for-donald-trump-i-expect-us/) [Kellyanne Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellyanne-conway/) > [Antitrust law isn't about protecting competing businesses from each other, it's about protecting competition itself on behalf of the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/antitrust-law-isn-t-about-protecting-competing-businesses-from-each/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [When we surrender to His timing, He does mighty things in and for us, according to His will and His timing. God acts on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/when-we-surrender-to-his-timing-he-does-mighty-things-in-and-for-us/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [When you leave good people afraid to speak on behalf of justice, however awkwardly or insensitively, those unafraid to speak will rise to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-morgan/when-you-leave-good-people-afraid-to-speak-on-behalf-of-justice/) [C.E. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-morgan/) > [ I couldn't ever act or think on behalf of what my father \[\[Albert Camus\]\] would have said or done. He's an artist, he considers… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-camus/i-couldn-t-ever-act-or-think-on-behalf-of-what-my-father-albert-camus/) [Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-camus/) > [Are you going to go down on your knees and beg for your life, old one?" 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He walked over to me. "That wouldn't be because you'd miss me too much if I were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/i-heard-you-re-campaigning-on-my-behalf-he-walked-over-to-me-that/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) Browse all 578 Behalf quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you are reading, someone has done a lot of work on your behalf, someone has had ideas and has then written and corrected and improved them so that they can be shared.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Margaret Mahy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/when-you-are-reading-someone-has-done-a-lot-of-work-on-your-behalf/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behalf" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/when-you-are-reading-someone-has-done-a-lot-of-work-on-your-behalf/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/margaret-mahy-9662_behalf_when-you-are-reading-someone-has-done-a_1950299.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/margaret-mahy-9662_behalf_when-you-are-reading-someone-has-done-a_1950299.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e21/margaret-mahy-9662_behalf_when-you-are-reading-someone-has-done-a_1950299.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you are reading, someone has done a lot of work on your behalf, someone has had ideas and has then…” — Margaret Mahy", "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": "Margaret Mahy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you are reading, someone has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/when-you-are-reading-someone-has-done-a-lot-of-work-on-your-behalf/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/when-you-are-reading-someone-has-done-a-lot-of-work-on-your-behalf/#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 } } ] } ```