The reason authors almost always put a dedication on a book, Annie, is because their selfishness even horrifies themselves in the end.

Summary

This quote suggests that authors include dedications in books as a way to counteract their own inherent selfishness. By dedicating their work to someone or something, they acknowledge and seek to balance the selfish motivations that often underlie their creative endeavors. The act of dedicating the book heightens their awareness of their own self-centeredness, which can sometimes trouble them. Ultimately, the dedication serves as a reminder to authors of the importance of gratitude and appreciation for others, countering their own potentially excessive self-interest.

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