Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904–91,) better known as Dr. Seuss, was an American writer and illustrator. He is celebrated for bringing a whimsical touch and a colorful imagination to the world of children’s books.
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Geisel attended Dartmouth College but later dropped out of Oxford University’s Lincoln College. After returning to America, he worked as a freelance cartoonist for magazines and advertising agencies, and as a Hollywood writer and animator.
Dr. Seuss’s first children’s book was And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street (1937,) which features a small boy who makes up a tall story about what he sees on the way home from school.
In 1957, Seuss began to write and draw a sequence of “Beginner Books” starting with The Cat in the Hat (1957.) This series used a simple vocabulary purposely to help teach reading—The Cat in the Hat uses just 220 different words and is 1702 words long. It was an extraordinarily critical and commercial success and made Dr. Seuss a household name. Within a year of publication, The Cat in the Hat was selling 12,000 copies a month; within five years, it had sold a million copies.
Dr. Seuss’s other popular children’s books include Horton Hatches the Egg (1940,) Green Eggs and Ham (1960,) and Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (1990.) His books feature a playful way with political or social issues—consumerism, environmentalism, racism, etc. For adults, Dr. Seuss wrote You’re Only Old Once! (1986.)
Some of Dr. Seuss’s books were made into such popular movies as How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) and The Cat in the Hat (2003.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more …
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Christmas
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.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
I’m sorry to say so but, sadly it’s true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Challenges
A person’s a person, no matter how small.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed!
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Words and pictures are yin and yang. Married, they produce a progeny more interesting than either parent.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Balance
Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Life, Sadness
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.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
You’re in pretty good shape for the shape you are in.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Individuality
You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Solitude, Loneliness
Only you can control your future.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Adults are obsolete children.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Children, Inner-child
Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Look at me! Look at me! Look at me NOW! It is fun to have fun, but you have to know how.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Fun
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.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Media
From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Fun
Oh, the things you can find if you don’t stay behind!
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
You are you. Now, isn’t that pleasant?
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Individuality
If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Fun
I know, up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Questions, Simplicity
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!
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Problems, Challenges, Adversity
Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Being True to Yourself
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.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Fun
Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Christmas
If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re really quite lucky.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
Topics: Luck
Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’)
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