Seussisms

I grew up reading Dr. Seuss.

I loved the story of the Sneetches who thought that personal value was decided by the presence or absence of a star on their bellies and spent their every last dollar trying to be better then the other Sneetches.

I found that that story was not the only Dr. Seuss story with a moral, or at least a few words of wisdom thrown in amidst the rhymes and gibberish words.

As a young poet, I envied his ability to simply make up new words when he couldn't find an adequate one that rhymed. My teachers never let me get away with that.

I have always, even as an adult, loved the quirky stories and have loved reading them to my own children.

Today I want to share with you some of the quips of wisdom and insight so often found in his pages.

.

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

nothing is going to get better. it's not.

-The Lorax

.

It's a troublesome world.

All the people who're in it

are troubled with troubles

almost every minute.

Just tell yourself, Duckie,

you're really quite lucky!

Some people are much more...

oh, muchly much much more

unlucky than you!

-Did I ever tell you how lucky you are?

.

I meant what I said and I said what I meant.....

An elephant's faithful, One hundred percent!

-Horton Hatches an Egg

.

I know, up on top

you are seeing great sights,

But down at the bottom

we, too, should have rights.

-Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories

.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.

Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!"

-How the Grinch Stole Christmas

.

You're in pretty good shape for the shape you are in!

-You're Only Old Once

.

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 guy

who'll decide where to go.

-Oh, the Places You'll Go

.

The more that you read,

the more things you will know.

The more that you learn,

the more places you'll go.

-I Can Read With My Eyes Shut.

.

A person's a person, no matter how small. -Horton Hears a Who

.

Think left and think right

and think low and think high.

Oh, the THINKS you can think up

if only you try!

-Oh the Thinks You Can Think

.

Be sure when you step.

Step with great care and tact

and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

-Oh, the Places You'll Go

Schools all over the country celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday last week.

Happy Birthday Mr. Geisel,

Thanks for all the wisdom.

Thanks for all the words,

Thanks for inventing new things,

like Truffulas and Nerds.

-Della