WIST Quotations

Seuss, Dr. -- “A Rather Short Epic Poem (size 6 and 7/8)” (1988)

Dave — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 04:02:01 +0000

I have asked Mr Bernstein,
who is an excellent blesser
to bless you all and say
that in a country where Illiteracy is on the rise
and the economy is sinking low
and Chastity is out the window
it is comforting to know
that though the frost is on the pumpkin
and civilization is on the skids
you guys are ferociously working underground
smuggling books into the hands of kids.

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
“A Rather Short Epic Poem (size 6 and 7/8)” (1988)

Delivered by Robert Bernstein at the 1988 meeting of the American Booksellers Association.

Seuss, Dr. -- “Author Isn’t Just a Cat in the Hat,” interview by Miles Corwin, Los Angeles Times (1983-11-27)

Dave — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:34:07 +0000

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 (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
“Author Isn’t Just a Cat in the Hat,” interview by Miles Corwin, Los Angeles Times (1983-11-27)
(Source)

Seuss, Dr. -- “Yertle the Turtle” (1958)

Dave — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:04:47 +0000

“I know, up on the top
You are seeing great sights,
But down here at the bottom
We, too, should have rights.”

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
“Yertle the Turtle” (1958)

Seuss, Dr. -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 30 May 2014 14:41:56 +0000

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
(Attributed)

Often attributed to Dr. Seuss without a citation of source. Also sometimes attributed, without citation to Gabriel García Márquez: "No llores porque ya se terminó ... sonríe, porque sucedió."

Seuss, Dr. -- Green Eggs and Ham (1960)

Dave — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:41:41 +0000

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 (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
Green Eggs and Ham (1960)

Seuss, Dr. -- Horton Hatches the Egg (1940)

Dave — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:28:50 +0000

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

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
Horton Hatches the Egg (1940)

Seuss, Dr. -- Horton Hears a Who! (1954)

Dave — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:28:03 +0000

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

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
Horton Hears a Who! (1954)

Seuss, Dr. -- How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, TV special, final lines [Narrator] (1966) [with Irv Spector, Bob Ogle, Eugene Poddany]

Dave — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 16:32:40 +0000

Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer.
Cheer to all Whos far and near.
Christmas Day is in our grasp,
so long as we have hands to clasp.
Christmas Day will always be
just as long as we have we.
Welcome Christmas while we stand,
heart to heart, and hand in hand.

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, TV special, final lines [Narrator] (1966) [with Irv Spector, Bob Ogle, Eugene Poddany]
(Source)

This phrase was from the 1966 animated special; it does not appear in the original 1957 book. It is unclear who actually wrote the words to the song, but "Dr. Seuss" is sually credited. The words are also embedded in the Whos' "Welcome Christmas" song. The narration was performed by Boris Karloff.

The last four lines are often paraphrased down to "Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand."

Seuss, Dr. -- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957)

Dave — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 01:39:56 +0000

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 three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
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?”

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957)
(Source)

Seuss, Dr. -- Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (1990)

Dave — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:04:41 +0000

I’m sorry to say so
But, sadly it’s true
That bang-ups and hang-ups
Can happen to you.

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (1990)

Seuss, Dr. -- One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (1960)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

If you never did, you should.
These things are fun, and fun is good.

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (1960)

Seuss, Dr. -- One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (1960)

Dave — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:09:14 +0000

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

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (1960)

Seuss, Dr. -- The Lorax (1971)

Dave — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 04:35:39 +0000

Unless someone like you
Cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better.
It’s not.

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
The Lorax (1971)

Seuss, Dr. -- The Lorax (1971)

Dave — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:48:52 +0000

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

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
The Lorax (1971)

Seuss, Dr. -- What Pet Should I Get? (c. 1960, 2015)

Dave — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 18:57:15 +0000

Dad would be mad.
We can only have one.
If we do not choose,
we will end up with NONE.

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
What Pet Should I Get? (c. 1960, 2015)

Seuss, Dr. -- Yertle the Turtle (1958)

Dave — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:14:57 +0000

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.

Dr. Seuss (1904-1991) American author, illustrator [pseud. of Theodor Geisel]
Yertle the Turtle (1958)