Dr. Seuss Quotes

We have collected and put the best Dr. Seuss Quotes in the following categories. Enjoy reading these insights and feel free to share this page on your social media to inspire others.

May these Dr. Seuss quotes on many subjects inspire you to never give up and keep working towards your goals. Who knows—success could be just around the corner.

Theodor Seuss Geisel (March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991) was an American children’s author, political cartoonist, illustrator, poet, animator, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He is known for his work writing and illustrating more than 60 books under the pen name Doctor Seuss (abbreviated Dr. Seuss). His work includes many of the most popular children’s books of all time, selling over 600 million copies and being translated into more than 20 languages by the time of his death.

Dr. Seuss had a wonderful way with his words. He managed to say, in a sentence or two, how to live with more life, or how to be more like you.

[A]s you partake of the world’s bill of fare,
that’s darned good advice to follow.
Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.
And be careful what you swallow. – Dr. Seuss

A person’s a person, no matter how small. – Dr. Seuss

A Wasn’t just isn’t. He just isn’t present. But you… You ARE YOU! And, now isn’t that pleasant! – Dr. Seuss

Adults are obsolete children. – Dr. Seuss

All those Nupboards in the Cupboards they’re good fun to have about. But that Nooth gush on my tooth brush…..Him I could do without. – Dr. Seuss

Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and twice as beautiful as you’ve ever imagined. – Dr. Seuss

And he, he himself, the Grinch – carved the roast beast. – Dr. Seuss

And that is a story that no one can beat, When I say that I saw it on Mulberry Street. – Dr. Seuss

And the turtles, of course… All the turtles are free- As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be. – Dr. Seuss

And turtles, of course… all the turtles are FREE. As turtles and, maybe, ALL creatures should be. – Dr. Seuss

And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. – Dr. Seuss

And what would you do if you met a jibboo? – Dr. Seuss

And when they played they really played. And when they worked they really worked. – Dr. Seuss

And when you’re alone there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on. – Dr. Seuss

And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed! – Dr. Seuss

And will you succeed? Yes you will indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.) – Dr. Seuss

And will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed! – Dr. Seuss

And you very small persons will not have to die if you make yourselves heard! So come on, now, and TRY! – Dr. Seuss

And, now, come to this spot Where the spotlight is hot And you’ll see in the spotlight A Juggling Jott Who can juggle some stuff You might think he could not… Such as twenty-two question marks, Which is a lot. Also forty-four commas And, also, one dot! That’s the kind of Circus McGurkus I’ve got! – Dr. Seuss

ASAP. Whatever that means. It must mean, ‘Act swiftly awesome pacyderm! – Dr. Seuss

Be grateful you’re not in the forest in France – Dr. Seuss

Be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s a great balancing act. – Dr. Seuss

Be who you are and say what you feel because the ones who mind don’t matter, and the ones who matter don’t mind. – Dr. Seuss

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. – Dr. Seuss

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who matter don’t mind, and those that mind, don’t matter. – Dr. Seuss

Be who you are and say what you mean. Because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. – Dr. Seuss

Because when a guy does something stupid once, well, that’s because he’s guy. But if he does the same stupid thing twice, that’s usually to impress some girl. – Dr. Seuss

Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing. – Dr. Seuss

Big Z, little Z, what begins with Z? I do. I’m a zizzer zazzer zuzz, as you can plainly see. – Dr. Seuss

Bump! Bump! Bump! Did you ever ride a wump? We have a Wump with just one hump. But, we know a man called Mr. Gump. Mr Gump has a seven hump Wump. So… if you Bump! Bump! Just jump on the hump on the Wump of Gump. – Dr. Seuss

Cat, you ruined mom’s dress!” “Honey, it was ruined when she bought it. – Dr. Seuss

Catch! calls the Once-ler. He lets something fall. It’s a Truffula Seed. It’s the last one of all! You’re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds. And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs. Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back. – Dr. Seuss

Cause when a guy does something stupid once, well that’s because he’s a guy. But if he does the same stupid thing twice, that’s usually to impress some girl. – Dr. Seuss

Chances are that the number of teachers that will be impacted by this will be very few. – Dr. Seuss

Congratulations! Today is your day! – Dr. Seuss

Don’t give up! I believe in you all. A person’s a person, no matter how small! And you very small persons will not have to die If you make yourselves heard! So come on, now, and TRY! – Dr. Seuss

Don’t grumble! Don’t stew! Some critters are much-much, Oh, ever so much-much So muchly much-much more unlucky than you! – Dr. Seuss

Don’t live to please everyone. Embrace those who enjoy your company and to hell with the haters. – Dr. Seuss

Even though we may all become extinct, we can still leave our footprint in the sand. – Dr. Seuss

Every once in a while, I get mad. ‘The Lorax’ came out of my being angry. The ecology books I’d read were dull… In ‘The Lorax,’ I was out to attack what I think are evil things and let the chips fall where they might. – Dr. Seuss

Everything stinks till it’s finished. – Dr. Seuss

Fame you’ll be famous, as famous as can be, with everyone watching you win on TV, Except when they don’t because sometimes they won’t. – Dr. Seuss

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it – Dr. Seuss

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities. – Dr. Seuss

Fiction is my addiction. – Dr. Seuss

For a host, above all, must be kind to his guests. – Dr. Seuss

Got something new , maybe it’ll work before the end of the day if that’s ok. – Dr. Seuss

Gray day. Everything is gray. I watch. But nothing moves today. – Dr. Seuss

He should not be here, ” said the fish in the pot. ” he should not be here when your mother is not. – Dr. Seuss

He took the Who’s feast, he took the Who pudding, he took the roast beast. He cleaned out that ice box as quick as a flash. Why, the Grinch even took their last can of Who hash. – Dr. Seuss

He who makes a beast out of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man. – Dr. Seuss

Hollywood is not suited for me, and I am not suited for it. – Dr. Seuss

Horton, the kangaroo has sent Vlad!’ Vlad? I know two Vlads. One is a cute little bunny that brings me cookies. The other is bad Vlad. Which Vlad?’ Which one do you think?’ Bad Vlad?’ Good call. – Dr. Seuss

How did it get so late so soon? – Dr. Seuss

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? – Dr. Seuss

How true, how true” said the Sour Kangaroo, “And from now on, you know what I’m gonna do? I’m going to protect them with you!” And the Young Kangaroo in her pouch said “Me too! – Dr. Seuss

I am a zizzer zazzer zuzz as you can plainly see. – Dr. Seuss

I am lucky to be what I am! Thank goodness I’m not just a clam, or a ham, or a dusty jar of sour gooseberry jam! I am what I am – that’s a great thing to be! – Dr. Seuss

I am the Lorax! I speak for the trees, Which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please; But I also speak for the brown Barbaloots, Who frolicked and played in their Barbaloot suits, Happily eating Truffula fruits. Now, since you’ve chopped the trees to the ground There’s not enough Truffula fruit to go ’round! And my poor Barbaloots are all feeling the crummies Because they have gas, and no food, in their tummies. – Dr. Seuss

I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues. – Dr. Seuss

I am what I am! That’s a great thing to be! If I say so my self, Happy Birthday to me! – Dr. Seuss

I box in yellow Gox box socks. – Dr. Seuss

I can read in red. I can read in blue. I can read in pickle color too. – Dr. Seuss

I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am. – Dr. Seuss

I do not like
green eggs and ham,
I do not like them,
Sam-I-am. – Dr. Seuss

I don’t like audiences, I prefer my mistakes in private. – Dr. Seuss

I don’t mind, and you don’t matter. – Dr. Seuss

I get all my ideas in Switzerland near the Forka Pass. There is a little town called Gletch, and two thousand feet up above Gletch there is a smaller hamlet called Über Gletch. I go there on the fourth of August every summer to get my cuckoo clock fixed. While the cuckoo is in the hospital, I wander around and talk to the people in the streets. They are very strange people, and I get my ideas from them. – Dr. Seuss

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me! – Dr. Seuss

I know it is wet
And the sun is not sunny.
But we can have
Lots of good fun that is funny! – Dr. Seuss

I know it may seem small and insignificant, but it’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become. That’s not a seed, any more than you’re just a boy. – Dr. Seuss

I know up on the top you are seeing great sights, but down at the bottom we, too, should have rights. “Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories – Dr. Seuss

I know, up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights. about equality. – Dr. Seuss

I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some from behind. – Dr. Seuss

I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells. – Dr. Seuss

I look at the world through the wrong end of a telescope. – Dr. Seuss

I meant no harm I most truly did not, but I had to grow bigger so bigger I got. I biggered my factory, I biggered my roads, I biggered the wagons, I biggered the loads, of the Thneeds I shipped out I was shipping them forth from the South, to the East, to the West. To the North, I went right on biggering selling more thneeds. And I biggered my money which everyone needs. – Dr. Seuss

I meant what I said and I said what I meant – An elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent! – Dr. Seuss

I meant what I said and said what I meant. – Dr. Seuss

I said, “I do not fear those pants with nobody inside them.” I said, and said, and said those words. I said them but I lied them. – Dr. Seuss

I speak for the trees! – Dr. Seuss

I start drawing, and eventually the characters involve themselves in a situation. Then in the end, I go back and try to cut out most of the preachments. – Dr. Seuss

I still climb Mount Everest just as often as I used to. I play polo just as often as I used to. But to walk down to the hardware store I find a little bit more difficult – Dr. Seuss

I was saving the name of ‘Geisel’ for the Great American Novel. – Dr. Seuss

I will not eat them in a house, i will not eat them with a mouse,i will not eat them in a box i will not eat them with a fox, i will not eat them here of there i will not eat them anywhere, I do not like green eggs and ham i do not like them sam i am – Dr. Seuss

I would not like them here or there. I would not like them anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them Sam I Am. – Dr. Seuss

If I went in debt a million dollars every time I committed genocide, I’d be our economy. – Dr. Seuss

If I were invited to a dinner party with my characters, I wouldn’t show up. – Dr. Seuss

If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too. – Dr. Seuss

If you can see things out of whack, then you can see how things can be in whack. – Dr. Seuss

If you don’t like me, remember it’s mind over matter. – Dr. Seuss

If you don’t like me, remember it’s mind over matter. I don’t mind, and you don’t matter. – Dr. Seuss

If you want to catch beasts you don’t see every day, You have to go places quite out of the way, You have to go places no others can get to. You have to get cold and you have too get wet, too. – Dr. Seuss

If you want to get things you can’t buy in a store, you have to do things never thought of before. – Dr. Seuss

I’m afraid sometimes you’ll play lonely games too, games you can’t win because you’ll play against you. – Dr. Seuss

I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you. – Dr. Seuss

I’m afraid that sometimes you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ’cause you’ll play against you. – Dr. Seuss

I’m sorry to say-so but, sadly it’s true that bang-ups and hang-up scan happen to you – Dr. Seuss

In the house, and on the street, how many, many feet you meet. – Dr. Seuss

It all began with a shoe on the wall. A shoe on the wall shouldn’t be there at all. – Dr. Seuss

It doesn’t matter what it is.What matters is what it will become. – Dr. Seuss

It has often been said there’s so much to be read, you never can cram all those words in your head. – Dr. Seuss

It is opener, out there, in the wide, open air. – Dr. Seuss

It’s better to know how to learn than to know. – Dr. Seuss

It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become. – Dr. Seuss

It’s not about what it is. It’s about what it can become. – Dr. Seuss

It’s opener there in the wide open air. – Dr. Seuss

It’s opener, out there, in the wide, open air. – Dr. Seuss

It’s high time you were shown That you really don’t know all there is to be known. – Dr. Seuss

It’s high time you were shown
That you really don’t know all there is to be known. – Dr. Seuss

It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become. – Dr. Seuss

It’s opener, out there, in the wide, open air. – Dr. Seuss

Just go. Go. Go! I don’t care how. You can go by foot. You can go by cow. – Dr. Seuss

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.) – Dr. Seuss

Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re really quite lucky. – Dr. Seuss

[Latin] allows you to adore words, take them apart and find out where they came from. – Dr. Seuss

Look at life through the wrong end of the telescope. – Dr. Seuss

Look at me! Look at me now! It is fun to have fun, but you have to know how. – Dr. Seuss

My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. It s the letter I use to spell yuzz a ma tuzz. You ll be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond Z and start poking around – Dr. Seuss

My shoe is off. My foot is cold. I have a bird I like to hold. – Dr. Seuss

My uncle ordered popovers
from the restaurant’s bill of fare.
And, when they were served,
he regarded them with a penetrating stare.
Then he spoke great words of wisdom
as he sat there on that chair:
To eat these things, said my uncle,
You must exercise great care.
You may swallow down what’s solid,
but you must spit out the air!
And as you partake of the world’s bill of fare,
that’s darned good advice to follow.
Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.
And be careful what you swallow. – Dr. Seuss

My wonderful weapon, the Jigger-Rock Snatchem, will fling ‘em right back just as quick as we catch ‘em. – Dr. Seuss

No matter what you do, somebody always imputes meaning into your books.

Nonsense wakes up the brain cells. And it helps develop a sense of humor, which is awfully important in this day and age. Humor has a tremendous place in this sordid world. It’s more than just a matter of laughing. If you can see things out of whack, then you can see how things can be in whack. – Dr. Seuss

Nonsense wakes up the brain cells. And it helps develop a sense of humor, which is awfully important in this day and age. – Dr. Seuss

Not here not there not anywhere! – Dr. Seuss

Nothing is going to change, unless someone does something soon. – Dr. Seuss

Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches had bellies with stars. The Plain-Belly Sneetches had none upon thars. – Dr. Seuss

Now… thanks to your hacking my trees to the ground, there’s not enough Truffula Fruit to go ’round. – Dr. Seuss

Oh the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! – Dr. Seuss

Oh, the places you will go. – Dr. Seuss

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be as famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV. Except when they don’t Because, sometimes they won’t. I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ’cause you’ll play against you. – Dr. Seuss

Oh, the things you can find if you don’t stay behind! – Dr. Seuss

Oh, what a day. I will make it a holiday. – Dr. Seuss

On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are. – Dr. Seuss

On and on you will hike.
And I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are. – Dr. Seuss

On the far-away Island of Sala-ma-Sond,
Yertle the Turtle was king of the pond.
A nice little pond. It was clean. It was neat.
The water was warm. There was plenty to eat.
The turtles had everything turtles might need.
And they were all happy. Quite happy indeed. – Dr. Seuss

Once-ler! You’re making such smogulous smoke – my poor swomee swans, why they can’t sing a note! No one can sing who has smog in his throat. – Dr. Seuss

One fish Two fish Red fish Blue fish! – Dr. Seuss

One fish. Two fish. Red fish. Blue fish. Black fish. Blue fish. Old fish. New fish. This one has a little star. This one has a little car. Say! What a lot of fish there are. – Dr. Seuss

Only you can control your future. – Dr. Seuss

Only you can control your future. quote about the future. – Dr. Seuss

Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. Oh! The places you’ll go! – Dr. Seuss

Out there things can happen, and frequently do, To people as brainy and footsy as you. And when things start to happen, don’t worry, don’t stew. Just go right along, you’ll start happening too! – Dr. Seuss

People who mind don’t matter. But people who matter don’t mind. – Dr. Seuss

Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air. – Dr. Seuss

Poor empty pants With nobody inside them. – Dr. Seuss

Pop guns! And bicycles! Roller skates! Drums! Checkerboards! Tricycles! Popcorn! And plums! And he stuffed them in bags. Then the Grinch, very nimbly, Stuffed all the bags, one by one, up the chimbley! – Dr. Seuss

Remember me and smile, for it’s better to forget than to remember me and cry. – Dr. Seuss

Sam Ran Over Sand or Sand Ran Over Sam – Dr. Seuss

Shorth is better than length. – Dr. Seuss

Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind maker-upper to make up his mind. – Dr. Seuss

Sleep is like the unicorn – it is rumored to exist, but I doubt I will see any. – Dr. Seuss

So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. – Dr. Seuss

So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. – Dr. Seuss

So you see! There’s no end to the things you might know,Depending how far beyond Zebra you go. – Dr. Seuss

So, on beyond Z! It’s high time you were shown. That you really don’t know. All there is to be known. – Dr. Seuss

So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts! – Dr. Seuss

Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. – Dr. Seuss

Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing. – Dr. Seuss

Sometimes a complicated question has a simple answer. – Dr. Seuss

Sometimes crazy just isn’t enough. – Dr. Seuss

Step with care and great tact, and remember that life’s a great balancing act. – Dr. Seuss

Take every chance, drop every fear. – Dr. Seuss

Teeth are always in style. – Dr. Seuss

Thank goodness for all of the things you are not!Thank goodness you’re not something someone forgot,and left all alone in some punkerish placelike a rusty tin coat hanger hanging in space.Thats why I say “Duckie!don’t grumble! don’t stew!some critters are much-much,oh, ever so much-much,so muchly much-much more unlucky than you! – Dr. Seuss

Thank goodness for all the things you are not, thank goodness you’re not something someone forgot, and left all alone in some punkerish place, like a rusty tin coat hanger hanging in space. – Dr. Seuss

‘The Lorax’ book was intended to be propaganda. – Dr. Seuss

The Lorax: Which way does a tree fall? The Once-ler: Uh, down? The Lorax: A tree falls the way it leans. Be careful which way you lean. – Dr. Seuss

The moon was out and I saw some sheep. I saw some sheep take a walk in their sleep. By the light of the moon, by the light of a star, They walked all night from near to far. I would never walk, I would take a car. – Dr. Seuss

The moon was out and I saw some sheep.
I saw some sheep take a walk in their sleep.
By the light of the moon, by the light of a star,
They walked all night from near to far.
I would never walk, I would take a car. – Dr. Seuss

The more that you read,
The more things you will know.
The more that you learn,
The more places you’ll go. – Dr. Seuss

The more you read, the more things you will know. – Dr. Seuss

The news just came in from the County of Keck That a very small bug by the name of Van Vleck Is yawning so wide you can look down his neck. This may not seem very important, I know, but it Is, so I’m bothering telling you so. – Dr. Seuss

The Sneetches got really quite smart on that day. The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches. And no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches. That day, all the Sneetches forgot about stars and whether they had one, or not, upon thars. – Dr. Seuss

The storm starts, when the drops start dropping When the drops stop dropping then the storm starts stopping. – Dr. Seuss

The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day. – Dr. Seuss

The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote: stink. Stank. Stunk. – Dr. Seuss

The words in this book are all phooey. When you say them, your lips will make slips and back flips and your tongue may end up in Saint Looey! – Dr. Seuss

This book is to be read in bed. – Dr. Seuss

This is not good. This is not right. My feet stick out of bed all night. And when I pull them in, oh dear! My head sticks out of bed out here! – Dr. Seuss

Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew. While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew. Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze. Freezy trees made these trees’ cheese freeze. That’s what made these three free fleas sneeze. – Dr. Seuss

Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. – Dr. Seuss

Today you are you! That is truer than true! – Dr. Seuss

Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you! – Dr. Seuss

Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you. – Dr. Seuss

Too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant its selling. – Dr. Seuss

Try them, try them, and you may! Try them and you may, I say. – Dr. Seuss

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It is not. And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed! – Dr. Seuss

Unless someone like you comes around, things will never change. – Dr. Seuss

Unslumping yourself is not easily done. – Dr. Seuss

Virtually every page is a cliffhanger – you’ve got to force them to turn it. – Dr. Seuss

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance. Everyone is just waiting. – Dr. Seuss

We looked! Then we saw him. Step in on the mat! We looked! And we saw him! The Cat in the Hat! – Dr. Seuss

Whats the point of fitting in, when we were meant to stand out? – Dr. Seuss

When at last we are sure, You’ve been properly pilled, Then a few paper forms, Must be properly filled. So that you and your heirs, May be properly billed. – Dr. Seuss

When beetles fight these battles in a bottle with their paddles and the bottle’s on a poodle and the poodle’s eating noodles… …they call this a muddle puddle tweetle poodle beetle noodle bottle paddle battle. – Dr. Seuss

When something bad happens you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let is destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you. – Dr. Seuss

When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time”.You have more potential than you believe you do.Don’t cry because its over, smile because it happened. – Dr. Seuss

When you think things are bad,
when you feel sour and blue,
when you start to get mad…
you should do what I do!
Just tell yourself, Duckie,
you’re really quite lucky!
Some people are much more…
oh, ever so much more…
oh, muchly much-much more
unlucky than you! – Dr. Seuss

When you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done. – Dr. Seuss

Why fit in when you were born to stand out? – Dr. Seuss

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street. – Dr. Seuss

Words and pictures are yin and yang. Married, they produce a progeny more interesting than either parent. Be awesome! Be a book nut! – Dr. Seuss

You are the guy who’ll decide where to go. – Dr. Seuss

You are you that is truer than true – Dr. Seuss

You are you. Now, isn’t that pleasant? – Dr. Seuss

You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place. The Waiting Place… – Dr. Seuss

You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. – Dr. Seuss

You can’t build a substantial V out of turtles! – Dr. Seuss

You can’t dribble on bow ties. – Dr. Seuss

You do not like them. So you say. Try them! Try them! And you may! – Dr. Seuss

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. – Dr. Seuss

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go… – Dr. Seuss

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose. – Dr. Seuss

You have to be odd to be number one. – Dr. Seuss

You make ‘em, I amuse ‘em. – Dr. Seuss

You never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. – Dr. Seuss

You ought to be shouting how lucky am I Be grateful you’re not in the forest in France
Where the average young person just hasn’t a chance
To escape from the perilous pants eating plants
But your pants are safe, you’re a fortunate guy
You ought to be shouting how lucky am I – Dr. Seuss

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. but mostly they’re darked. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win? – Dr. Seuss

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest. Except when you don’t. Because, sometimes, you won’t. – Dr. Seuss

You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights. – Dr. Seuss

You’ll meet things that will scare you right out of your pants! – Dr. Seuss

You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut. Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. – Dr. Seuss

You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So get on your way! – Dr. Seuss

You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go. – Dr. Seuss

You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights. – Dr. Seuss

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left. – Dr. Seuss

You’re a monster, Mr. Grinch.
Your heart’s an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders,
You’ve got garlic in your soul. – Dr. Seuss

You’re in pretty good shape for the shape you are in. – Dr. Seuss

You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way! – Dr. Seuss

You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go… – Dr. Seuss

You’ve got brains in your head and feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. – Dr. Seuss

A person’s a person, no matter how small.
I meant what I said and I said what I meant.
I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.
Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. – Dr. Seuss

On Children

A kid is a guy I never wrote down to. He’s interested in what I say if I make it interesting. – Dr. Seuss

Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them. – Dr. Seuss

Adults are just outdated children. – Dr. Seuss

Adults are only obsolete children. – Dr. Seuss

Children want the same things we want. To laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained, and delighted. – Dr. Seuss

Kid, you’ll move mountains! – Dr. Seuss

Kid, you’ll move mountains! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way! – Dr. Seuss

Ninety percent of the children’s books patronize the child and say there’s a difference between you and me, so you listen to this story. I, for some reason or another, don’t do that. I treat the child as an equal. – Dr. Seuss

Sometimes, when I see my granddaughters make small discoveries of their own, I wish I were a child. – Dr. Seuss

What it really said to me is how hard the people at our school work, … All of our employees who work here are working hard to do what’s right for our kids. – Dr. Seuss

You can do better than this.” The best slogan I can think of to leave with the kids of the U.S.A. would be “We can . . . and we’ve got to . . . do better than this. – Dr. Seuss

You make ’em, I amuse ’em. [children] – Dr. Seuss

On Christmas

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. – Dr. Seuss

Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more … – Dr. Seuss

Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more. from How the Grinch Stole Christmas! – Dr. Seuss

Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand. – Dr. Seuss

It came without ribbions, It cames without tags, It came without packages, boxes, or bags. Christmas can’t be bought from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more. – Dr. Seuss

Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store. – Dr. Seuss

The ribbons! The wrappings! The tags! And the tinsel! The trimmings! The trappings! – Dr. Seuss

On Fun

Fun is good. – Dr. Seuss

Day Play. We play all day. Night Fight. We fight all night. – Dr. Seuss

Did you ever fly a kite in bed? Did you ever walk with ten cats on your head? Did you ever milk this kind of cow? Well, we can do it. We know how. If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is good. – Dr. Seuss

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life’s realities. – Dr. Seuss

From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere. – Dr. Seuss

From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere! – Dr. Seuss

Here are some who like to run. They run for fun in the hot, hot sun. – Dr. Seuss

I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of good fun that is funny. – Dr. Seuss

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life’s realities. – Dr. Seuss

I’m glad we had the times together just to laugh and sing a song, seems like we just got started and then before you know it, the times we had together were gone. – Dr. Seuss

If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good – Dr. Seuss

If you’d never been born, then you might be an Isn’t! An Isn’t has no fun at all. No, he disn’t. – Dr. Seuss

If you’d never been born, then you might be an Isn’t! An Isn’t has no fun at all. No, he didn’t! – Dr. Seuss

It is fun to have fun. – Dr. Seuss

It is fun to have fun but you have to know how. – Dr. Seuss

It is fun to have fun. But you have to know how. – Dr. Seuss

Look at me! Look at me! Look at me NOW! It is fun to have fun But you have to know how. – Dr. Seuss

Look at me! Look at me! Look at me NOW! It is fun to have fun, but you have to know how. If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too. – Dr. Seuss

Oh the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. – Dr. Seuss

The world is an interesting place. Have fun and explore it. You may even meet someone new! – Dr. Seuss

Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. Every day, from here to there, funny things are everywhere. – Dr. Seuss

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one. – Dr. Seuss

When he worked, he really worked. But when he played, he really PLAYED. – Dr. Seuss

On Life

A book is just like life and anything can change. – Dr. Seuss

A life is a life no matter how small. – Dr. Seuss

A life with love will have some thorns, but a life without love will have no roses. To the world, you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. – Dr. Seuss

Being crazy isn’t enough. – Dr. Seuss

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. – Dr. Seuss

Don’t give up now, I believe in you all! A person’s a person, no matter how small. – Dr. Seuss

Don’t give up! I believe in you all. A person’s a person, no matter how small. – Dr. Seuss

Don’t give up. I believe in you all. – Dr. Seuss

Don’t conform for the sake of pleasing others. Mold yourself into the person that you want to be. – Dr. Seuss

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. – Dr. Seuss

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. – Dr. Seuss

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? – Dr. Seuss

I know, up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights. – Dr. Seuss

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. – Dr. Seuss

I meant what I said and I said what I meant. – Dr. Seuss

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly it’s true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you. – Dr. Seuss

If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too. – Dr. Seuss

If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it’d be easy, they just promised it would be worth it. – Dr. Seuss

In my world, everyone’s a pony and they all eat rainbows and poop butterflies! – Dr. Seuss

In the places I go there are things that I see that I never could spell if I stopped with the Z. – Dr. Seuss

Life’s too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it’d be easy, they just promised it would be worth it. – Dr. Seuss

Life’s just one great journey. It’s a road we travel as we go from point A to point B. What makes that journey worthwhile is the people we choose to travel with, the people we hold close as we take steps into the darkness and blindly make our way through life. They’re the people who matter. – Dr. Seuss

Oh the things you can find, if you don’t stay behind! – Dr. Seuss

Simple it’s not, I am afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind. – Dr. Seuss

Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory. – Dr. Seuss

Step with care and great tact, and remember that life’s a great balancing act. – Dr. Seuss

They say I’m old-fashioned, and live in the past, but sometimes I think progress progresses too fast! – Dr. Seuss

Things may happen and often do to people as brainy and footsy as you. – Dr. Seuss

Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered. – Dr. Seuss

You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut. – Dr. Seuss

On Love

I am weird, you are weird. Everyone in this world is weird. One day two people come together in mutual weirdness and fall in love. – Dr. Seuss

I know I am in love because I am finding it difficult to fall asleep nowadays. This is because after having you around me now I find that reality is better than dreams. – Dr. Seuss

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it’d be easy, they just promised it would be worth it. – Dr. Seuss

People are weird. When we find someone with weirdness that is compatible with ours, we team up and call it love. – Dr. Seuss

We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love. – Dr. Seuss

You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. – Dr. Seuss

You really can’t teach reading as a science. Love gets mixed up in it. – Dr. Seuss

On Reading, Writing, and Learning

‘The Lorax’ book was intended to be propaganda. – Dr. Seuss

Be awesome! Be a book nut! – Dr. Seuss

Children’s reading and children’s thinking are the rock-bottom base upon which this country will rise. Or not rise. In these days of tension and confusion, writers are beginning to realize that books for children have a greater potential for good or evil than any other form of literature on earth. – Dr. Seuss

Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks. – Dr. Seuss

I am not a consecutive writer. – Dr. Seuss

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. – Dr. Seuss

I stay out of politics because if I begin thinking too much about politics, I’ll probably… drop writing children’s books and become a political cartoonist again. – Dr. Seuss

I tend to basically exaggerate in life, and in writing, it’s fine to exaggerate. I really enjoy overstating for the purpose of getting a laugh. For another thing, writing is easier than digging ditches. Well, actually, that’s an exaggeration. It isn’t. – Dr. Seuss

I’m telling you this ‘cause you’re one of my friends. My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends! – Dr. Seuss

If you keep your eyes open enough, oh, the stuff you will learn. Oh, the most wonderful stuff. – Dr. Seuss

It has often been said there’s so much to be read, you never can cram all those words in your head. So the writer who breeds more words than he needs is making a chore for the reader who reads. That’s why my belief is the briefer the brief is, the greater the sigh of the reader’s relief is. And that’s why your books have such power and strength. You publish with shorth! (Shorth is better than length.) – Dr. Seuss

It is better to know how to learn than to know. – Dr. Seuss

Preachers in pulpits talked about what a great message is in the book. No matter what you do, somebody always imputes meaning into your books. – Dr. Seuss

Read. Travel. Read. Ask. Read. Learn. Read. Connect. Read. – Dr. Seuss

Reading can take you places you have never been before. – Dr. Seuss

So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads. – Dr. Seuss

The main problem with writing in verse is, if your fourth line doesn’t come out right, you’ve got to throw four lines away and figure out a whole new way to attack the problem. So the mortality rate is terrific. – Dr. Seuss

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. – Dr. Seuss

The problem with writing a book in verse is, to be successful, it has to sound like you knocked it off on a rainy Friday afternoon. It has to sound easy. When you can do it, it helps tremendously because it’s a thing that forces kids to read on. You have this unconsummated feeling if you stop. – Dr. Seuss

There are so many things you can learn about, but you’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut. – Dr. Seuss

There’s no limit to how much you’ll know, depending how far beyond zebra you go. – Dr. Seuss

Whenever things go a bit sour in a job I’m doing, I always tell myself, ‘You can do better than this.’ – Dr. Seuss

Words and pictures are yin and yang. Married, they produce a progeny more interesting than either parent. – Dr. Seuss

Writing for children is murder. A chapter has to be boiled down to a paragraph. Every word has to count. – Dr. Seuss

Writing simply means no dependent clauses, no dangling things, no flashbacks, and keeping the subject near the predicate. We throw in as many fresh words we can get away with. Simple, short sentences don’t always work. You have to do tricks with pacing, alternate long sentences with short, to keep it vital and alive…. Virtually every page is a cliffhanger–you’ve got to force them to turn it. – Dr. Seuss

You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book. – Dr. Seuss

You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room. – Dr. Seuss

You have to be a speedy reader because there’s so so much to read. – Dr. Seuss

You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child. – Dr. Seuss

Young cat! If you keep Your eyes open enough, Oh, the stuff you will learn! The most wonderful stuff! – Dr. Seuss

On Relationships

Be grateful you’re not in the forest in France Where the average young person just hasn’t a chance To escape from the perilous pants eating plants But your pants are safe, you’re a fortunate guy You ought to be shouting how lucky am I. – Dr. Seuss

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. – Dr. Seuss

Be yourself and the people that don’t mind are the people that matter. – Dr. Seuss

It’s a troublesome world. All the people who are in it are troubled with troubles almost every minute. You ought to be thankful, a whole heaping lot, for the places and people you’re lucky you’re not. – Dr. Seuss

People are weird. When we find someone with weirdness that is compatible with ours, we team up and call it love. – Dr. Seuss

Respect the environment. Good karma means good relationships. – Dr. Seuss

The people that mind don’t matter, and the people that matter don’t mind. – Dr. Seuss

Things are never quite as scary when you’ve got a best friend. – Dr. Seuss

To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world. – Dr. Seuss

You oughta be thankful a whole heaping lot for the people and places you’re lucky you’re not. – Dr. Seuss

On Thinking

Children’s reading and children’s thinking are the rock-bottom base upon which this country will rise. – Dr. Seuss

Oh, the thinks you can think! – Dr. Seuss

Think and wonder, wonder and think. – Dr. Seuss

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try! – Dr. Seuss

Think they work you too hard? Think of poor Ali Sard. He has to mow grass in his uncle’s backyard and its quick growing grass and it grows as he mows it the faster he mows it the faster he grows it. And all that his stingy old uncle will pay for his shoving mower around the hay is piffulous pay of two dooklas a day. And Ali can’t live on such piffulous pay! – Dr. Seuss

Think! Think and wonder. Wonder and think. How much water can 55 elephants drink? – Dr. Seuss

Think! You can think any think that you wish… – Dr. Seuss

We’ve taught you that the earth is round, That red and white make pink, And something else that matters more – We’ve taught you how to think. – Dr. Seuss

When you think things are bad, when you feel sour and blue, when you start to get mad… you should do what I do! Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re really quite lucky! Some people are much more… oh, ever so much more… oh, muchly much-much more unlucky than you! – Dr. Seuss

You can think about red. You can think about pink. You can think up a horse. Oh, the THINKS you can think! – Dr. Seuss

On Troubles

All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you’ll be quite a lot! – Dr. Seuss

Everything stinks until it’s finished. – Dr. Seuss

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me! – Dr. Seuss

I’m afraid sometimes you’ll play lonely games too, games you can’t win because you’ll play against you. – Dr. Seuss

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly it’s true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you. – Dr. Seuss

If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too. – Dr. Seuss

It’s a troublesome world. All the people who are in it are troubled with troubles almost every minute. You ought to be thankful, a whole heaping lot, for the places and people you’re lucky you’re not. – Dr. Seuss

I’ve heard there are troubles of more than one kind; some come from ahead, and some come from behind. But I’ve brought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see; now my troubles are going to have troubles with me! – Dr. Seuss

My trouble was I had a mind but I couldn’t make it up! – Dr. Seuss

Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me! – Dr. Seuss

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. – Dr. Seuss

Things may happen and often do to people as brainy and footsy as you. – Dr. Seuss

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. – Dr. Seuss

When you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done. – Dr. Seuss

You’re in pretty good shape for the shape you are in. – Dr. Seuss

You’re in pretty good shape for the shape you are in. I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me! – Dr. Seuss

From Wikiquote

• … and the wolf chewed up the children and spit out their bones … But those were Foreign Children and it really didn’t matter …
  • Caption to a political cartoon against the “America First” movement, showing children being read a story of “Adolf the Wolf”, in PM Magazine (1 October 1941)

• You make ’em, I amuse ’em.
  • Statement about children, as quoted in Enter, Conversing (1962) by Clifton Fadiman, p. 108

• Nonsense wakes up the brain cells. And it helps develop a sense of humor, which is awfully important in this day and age. Humor has a tremendous place in this sordid world. It’s more than just a matter of laughing. If you can see things out of whack, then you can see how things can be in whack.
  • As quoted in “Author Isn’t Just a Cat in the Hat” by Miles Corwin in The Los Angeles Times (27 November 1983); also in Dr. Seuss: American Icon (2004) by Philip Nel, p. 38

• When at last we are sure
  You’ve been properly pilled,
  Then a few paper forms
  Must be properly filled
  So that you and your heirs
  May be properly billed.
  • You’re Only Old Once! : A Book for Obsolete Children (1986)

• You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.
  • On becoming a writer, NY Times (May 21, 1986)

• Adults are just obsolete children and the hell with them.
  • On writing for adults, as quoted in Of Sneetches and Whos and the Good Dr. Seuss: Essays on the Writings and Life of Theodor Geisel (1997) by Thomas Fensch, p. 96

And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street (1937)

• And that is a story that no one can beat,
  When I say that I saw it on Mulberry Street.

Horton Hatches the Egg (1940)

• I meant what I said,
  and I said what I meant
  An elephant’s faithful,
  One hundred percent.

Horton Hears a Who! (1954)

• On the 15th of May, in the Jungle of Nool,
  In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool,
  He was splashing… enjoying the jungle’s great joys…
  When Horton the elephant heard a small noise.

• A person’s a person, no matter how small.

• “My friends!”, cried the elephant.
  “Tell me! Do tell!
  Are you safe? Are you sound?
  Are you whole? Are you well?”

• “You’re going to be roped!
  And you’re going to be caged!
  And, as for your dust speck – hah!
  That we shall boil in a hot steaming kettle of Beezle-Nut Oil!”

• “Don’t give up! I believe in you all.
  A person’s a person, no matter how small!
  And you very small persons will not have to die
  If you make yourselves heard! So come on, now, and TRY!“

• “This”, cried the Mayor, “is your town’s darkest hour!
  The time for all Whos who have blood that is red
  To come to the aid of their country!”, he said.
  “We’ve GOT to make noises in greater amounts!
  So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!“

On Beyond Zebra! (1955)

• Oh the things you can find
  If you don’t stay behind!

• In the places I go there are things that I see
  That I never could spell if I stopped with the Z.
  I’m telling you this ’cause you’re one of my friends.
  My alphabet starts where your alphabet ends!

• So, on beyond Z!
  It’s high time you were shown
  That you really don’t know
  All there is to be known.
  

  And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!

The Cat in the Hat (1957)

• The sun did not shine.
  It was too wet to play.
  So we sat in the house
  All that cold, cold, wet day.

• We looked! Then we saw him
  Step in on the mat!
  We looked! And we saw him!
  The Cat in the Hat!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1957)

• “Maybe Christmas…”, he thought, “…Doesn’t come from a store.”
  “Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!”

• Well, in Who-ville they say
  That the Grinch’s small heart
  Grew 3 sizes that day.

Yertle the Turtle (1958)

• And today the great Yertle, that Marvelous he,
  Is King of the Mud. That is all he can see.
  And the turtles, of course… all the turtles are free
  As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be.

• I know up on top you are seeing great sights,
  But down here on the bottom,
  We too should have rights.

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (1960)

• From there to here,
  from here to there,
  funny things are everywhere.

• If you never did
  You should.
  These things are fun.
  and Fun is good.’

Green Eggs and Ham (1960)

• I am Sam.
  Sam-I-Am.

• That Sam-I-Am!
  That Sam-I-Am!
  I do not like that Sam-I-Am!

• I would not like them here or there.
  I would not like them anywhere.
  I do not like green eggs and ham.
  I do not like them, Sam-I-Am.

• Say!
  I like green eggs and ham!
  I do! I like them, Sam-I-Am!

I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew (1965)

• I pulled, pulled, and pulled. And the next thing I knew,
  I was pulling the camel and Wubble-Chap too!
  “Now really,” I thought, “this is rather unfair!”
  But he said, “Don’t you stew. I am doing my share.
  “This is called teamwork. I furnish the brains.
  You furnish the muscles, the aches and the pains.
  I’ll pick the best roads, tell you just where to go,
  And we’ll find a good doctor more quickly, you know.”
  Then he sat and he worked with his brains and his tongue
  And he bossed me around just because I was young.
  He told me go left. Then he told me go right.
  And that’s what he told me all day and all night.

• A big man on a horse scared me out of my wits.
  He bellowed, “I’m General Genghis Kahn Schmitz.
  There’s a war going on! And it’s time that you knew
  Every lad in this land has his duty to do.
  We’re marching to battle. We need you, my boy!
  We’re about to attack. We’re about to destroy
  The Perilous Poozer of Pompelmoose Pass!
  So get into line. You’re a Private, First Class.”

• I’d have no more troubles…
  That’s what the man said.So I started to go.
  But I didn’t.
  Instead ….
  I did some quick thinking
  Inside of my head.Then I started back home
  To the Valley of Vung.
  I know I’ll have troubles.
  I’ll maybe get stung.
  I’ll always have troubles.
  I’ll maybe get bit
  By that Green-Headed Quail
  On the place where I sit.

  But I’ve bought a big bat.
  I’m all ready, you see.
  Now my troubles are going
  To have troubles with me!

  

  Dr. Seuss’ Signature

The Lorax (1972)

• “Mister!” he said with a sawdusty sneeze.
  “I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.
  I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.
  And I’m asking you, sir, at the top of my lungs” –
  He was very upset as he shouted and puffed –
  “What’s that THING you’ve made out of my Truffula tuft?”

• I am the Lorax who speaks for the trees,
  Which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please!
  But I’m also in charge of the brown Bar-ba-loots,
  Who played in the shade in their Bar-ba-loot suits,
  And happily lived, eating Truffula fruits.
  Now, thanks to your hacking my trees to the ground,
  There’s not enough Truffula fruit to go ’round!
  And my poor Bar-ba-loots are all getting the crummies
  Because they have gas, and no food, in their tummies!

• UNLESS someone like you
  cares a whole awful lot,
  nothing is going to get better.
  It’s not.

• “So . . .
  Catch!” calls the Once-ler.
  He lets something fall.
  “It’s a Truffula Seed.
  It’s the last one of all!
  You’re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.
  And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.
  Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.
  Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.
  Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.
  Then the Lorax
  and all of his friends
  may come back.”

• Now all that was left ‘neath the bad-smelling sky
  was my big empty factory…
  the Lorax…
  and I.
  The Lorax said nothing.
  Just gave me a glance,
  just gave me a very sad, sad backward glance,
  as he lifted himself by the seat of his pants.
  And I’ll never forget the grim look on his face
  when he heisted himself and took leave of this place,
  through a hole in the smog, without leaving a trace.
  And all that the Lorax left here in this mess
  was a small pile of rocks with the one word:
  UNLESS.
  Whatever that meant . . . well, I just couldn’t guess.

Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? (1973)

• It’s a troublesome world. All the people who’re in it
  are troubled with troubles almost every minute.
  You oughta be thankful, a whole heaping lot,
  For the places and people you’re lucky you’re not!
  • The last sentence of this statement is often misquoted as “You oughta be thankful, a whole heaping lot, / For the people and places you’re lucky you’re not!’“

• And suppose that you lived in that forest in France
  Where the average young person just hasn’t a chance
  To escape from the perilous pants-eating plants!
  But your pants are safe! You’re a fortunate guy.
  And you ought to be shouting, “How lucky am I!”

• Thank goodness for all the things you are not!
  Thank goodness you’re not something someone forgot,
  and left all alone in some punkerish place
  like a rusty tin coat hanger hanging in space.

• That’s why I say, “Duckie!
  Don’t grumble! Don’t stew!
  Some critters are much-much,
  oh, ever so much-much,
  so muchly much-much more unlucky than you!“

I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! (1978)

• The more that you read,
  The more things you will know.
  The more that you learn,
  The more places you’ll go.

• Young cat! If you keep
  Your eyes open enough,
  Oh, the stuff you will learn!
  The most wonderful stuff!

• you’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut

Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (1990)

• You have brains in your head.
  You have feet in your shoes.
  You can steer yourself
  any direction you choose.

• With your head full of brains,
  and your shoes full of feet,
  You’re too smart to go down any not-so-good-street.

• Out there things can happen, and frequently do,
  To people as brainy and footsy as you.
  And when things start to happen, don’t worry, don’t stew.
  Just go right along, you’ll start happening too!

• You’re off to great places. Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way.

Disputed

• “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
  • Often attributed to Dr. Seuss without citation; also cited as an anonymous proverb.
  • This quote has also been attributed to Gabriel García Márquez, in Spanish: “No llores porque ya se terminó, sonríe porque sucedió.”
    • Compare lines from In Memoriam A.H.H. of Tennyson:
      ‘Tis better to have loved and lost
      Than never to have loved at all.