Presents, I often say, endear absents.

Lamb’s epigram turns on the paradox that gifts can intensify, rather than relieve, separation. A “present” is meant to stand in for the giver, but precisely because it is a substitute, it can sharpen awareness of the giver’s absence—making the absent person more vividly present to the mind and affections. The line also hints at the social mechanics of remembrance: tokens, letters, and small offerings keep relationships warm across distance, yet they may also carry a sting of longing. In Lamb’s characteristically wry, conversational manner, the sentiment balances gratitude for the gesture with a rueful recognition of what it cannot supply: actual presence.