One hundred and eleven twelve years ago today, Dr. Seuss (or, Theodor Seuss Geisel) was born. Author and illustrator of 46 children's books, Dr. Seuss is one of the most well-known and beloved authors of all time, with his work having been adapted into 11 TV specials, four feature films, a Broadway musical, four television series and a theme park over the years.
Prolific and adored, Dr. Seuss won the Pulitzer Prize, a Peabody and an Academy Award (for a documentary!), and his works have been translated into more than 20 languages with sales of over 600 millions copies worldwide.
Though he passed away in 1991 at the age of 87, Geisel's birthday (today!) was adopted as the annual date for National Read Across America. So if, like us, you've heard a Who, hopped on pop or seen some things on Mulberry Street, these Seussian quotes should inspire you to pick up a book and get reading.
"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."
"Why fit in when you're born to stand out?"
"You'll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut."
"Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting. So ... get on your way."
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."
"If things start happening, don't worry, don't stew, just go right along and you'll start happening too."
"A person's a person, no matter how small."
"It is better to know how to learn than to know."
"Be who you are and say what you mean. Because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
"You're on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who'll decide where to go."
"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."Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory."
"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."
"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."
"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."
"Fun is good."