A. A. Milne (1882–1956,) fully Alan Alexander Milne, was an English humorist and author of stories and poems for children. He created the toy bear character Winnie the Pooh (along with the toy animals Piglet, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl, and Eeyore) for his son Christopher Robin.
Born in St John’s Wood, London, Milne was educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge. He joined the staff of Punch as an assistant editor and became well known for his humorous verse and whimsical essays. His early comedies include Wurzel-Flummery (1917,) Mr. Pim Passes By (1919,) and The Dover Road (1922.)
Milne was the creator of the immensely popular series of nursery stories written for his son Christopher Robin, namely Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928,) remarkably illustrated by E. H. Shepard. Milne portrayed the carefree innocence of childhood while preserving its vulnerability and the sometimes-frightening largeness of the adult world.
Milne also wrote two collections of verse for children: When We Were Very Young (1924) and Now We Are Six (1927.)
Besides, Milne worked as an essayist, a playwright, a poet, and an adult novelist. His novels include the detective story The Red House Mystery (1922) and light comedies such as The Truth About Blayds (1923) and Michael and Mary (1930.) Milne’s autobiography is It’s Too Late Now (1939.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by A. A. Milne
One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Discovery, Organization, Creativity, Order
Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Thinking
“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Happiness
When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Thinking
If you live to be a hundred,
I want to live to be a hundred minus one day,
so I never have to live without you.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Love
If the English language had been properly organized … then there would be a word which meant both “he” and “she,” and I could write, “If John or Mary comes heesh will want to play tennis,” which would save a lot of trouble.
—A. A. Milne
How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Relationships
A grand adventure is about to begin
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Pregnancy
I suppose that everyone of us hopes secretly for immortality; to leave, I mean, a name behind him which will live forever in this world, whatever he may be doing, himself, in the next.
—A. A. Milne
I do like a little bit of butter to my bread.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Life
Poetry and Hums aren’t things which you get, they’re things which get you. And all you can do is to go where they can find you.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Music
When late morning rolls around and you’re feeling a bit out of sorts, don’t worry; you’re probably just a little eleven o’clockish
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Worry
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh!” he whispered. “Yes, Piglet?” “Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s paw. “I just wanted to be sure of you”.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Relationships
No doubt Jack the Ripper excused himself on the grounds that it was human nature.
—A. A. Milne
Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Stress
It is impossible to win gracefully at chess. No man has yet said “Mate!” in a voice which failed to sound to his opponent bitter, boastful and malicious.
—A. A. Milne
If one is to be called a liar, one may as well make an effort to deserve the name.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Lies, Deception/Lying
Whatever fortune brings, don’t be afraid of doing things.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Action
Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it’s not all mixed up.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Planning
Golf is so popular simply because it is the best game in the world at which to be bad
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Golf
Never forget me, because if I thought you would, I’d never leave.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Friendship
“It’s snowing still,” said Eeyore gloomily. “So it is”. “And freezing”. “Is it?” “Yes,” said Eeyore. “However,” he said, brightening up a little, “we haven’t had an earthquake lately”.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Attitude
For I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me.
—A. A. Milne
The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Thinking
You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.
—A. A. Milne
Topics: Action
Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.
—A. A. Milne
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