Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) was an American cartoonist. He was the creator of the Peanuts comic strip, which features a variety of characters including the boy Charlie Brown and the dog Snoopy. He was the winner of two Reuben, two Peabody, and five Emmy awards and a member of the Cartoonist Hall of Fame.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Schulz discovered that he had a knack for drawing the Popeye cartoon fictional character in first grade and decided to become a cartoonist. He was an introverted teenager and failed in at least one subject every year of high school. Disheartened, Schulz gave up on going to college and registered in a correspondence school for art.
The comic strip Peanuts made its début on this date in 1950. It was syndicated in eight local papers. The strip was an immediate success and expanded to more than 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries at its peak. The Peanuts franchise extended into dozens of original books and collections, including A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966.) Peanuts also developed Emmy Award-winning television specials, full-length feature films, Broadway musicals, and record albums. Schulz’s Happiness Is a Warm Puppy (1963) sold more that year than any other hardcover book for children or adults.
In 1984, The Guinness Book of Records listed Peanuts as the world’s most widely syndicated comic strip, and by its fortieth anniversary in 1990, the strip was running in more than 2,000 newspapers in dozens of countries.
Schulz drew 18,000 newspaper strips throughout his life. He was hugely influential on other cartoonists, and his warm, ironic, funny, poignant, and unique take on life was inspirational for his readers. When he died in 2000, more than 100 cartoonists paid tribute to him in their comic strips that day.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Charles M. Schulz
Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Love
Big sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Family
There’s a difference between a philosophy and a bumper sticker.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Philosophy
I have a new philosophy. I’m only going to dread one day at a time.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Present
There must be millions of people all over the world who never get any love letters… I could be their leader.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Letters
Happiness is a warm puppy.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Dogs
Are you upset little friend? Have you been lying awake worrying? Well, don’t worry…I’m here. The flood waters will recede, the famine will end, the sun will shine tomorrow, and I will always be here to take care of you.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Worry
Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Christmas
You can’t eat compliments.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Praise
Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Life
Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Worry
My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I’m happy. I can’t figure it out. What am I doing right?
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Happiness, Purpose, Meaning
Just remember, once you’re over the hill you begin to pick up speed.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Birthdays, Aging, Age
I think I’ve discovered the secret of life — you just hang around until you get used to it.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Life, Living Well, Fun
The way I see it, it doesn’t matter what you believe just so you’re sincere.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Sincerity
Jogging is very beneficial. It’s good for your legs and your feet. It’s also very good for the ground. It makes it feel needed.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Exercise
I feel sorry for someone who has to win at everything.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Victory
That’s the secret to life … replace one worry with another.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Worry, One liners
This is my “depressed stance.” When you’re depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you’ll start to feel better. If you’re going to get any joy out of being depressed, you’ve got to stand like this.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Happiness, Depression
I’ve developed a new philosophy … I only dread one day at a time.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Fear, Worry
In the book of life, the answers aren’t in the back.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Life
I know the answer! The answer lies within the heart of all mankind! The answer is twelve? I think I’m in the wrong building.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Heart
I love mankind; it’s people I can’t stand.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Humanity, Humankind
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Justice, Trials
All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!
—Charles M. Schulz
Lucy: Beethoven’s birthday is December 16th Shermy! Have you decided what you’re going to get me?
Shermy: Yes! I’m not going to get you anything!
Lucy: What kind of a holiday is it where you don’t give girls presents?
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Holidays
If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Gift, Laughter
Life is like an ice-cream cone, you have to lick it one day at a time.
—Charles M. Schulz
Sometimes I lie awake at night and ask why me? Then a voice answers nothing personal, your name just happened to come up.
—Charles M. Schulz
Topics: Blame
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Lynda Barry American Cartoonist
Scott Adams American Cartoonist
Ashleigh Brilliant British Cartoonist
Walt Disney American Entrepreneur
William Hogarth English Painter, Engraver
Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’) American Children’s Books Writer
Andy Rooney American Writer
Mort Walker American Comic Artist
Robert M. Pirsig American Writer
E. L. Doctorow American Writer