Inspirational Quotes by Shel Silverstein (American Cartoonist, Author)

Shel Silverstein (1932–99,) fully Sheldon Allan Silverstein, also known as Uncle Shelby, was an American poet, cartoonist, humorist, singer, writer, composer, and lyricist. He is best known for his light verse, quirky cartoons and children’s stories and poetry, such as in The Giving Tree (1964,) Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974,) A Light in the Attic (1981,) and Falling Up (1996.)

Born into a Jewish family in Chicago, Silverstein attended the University of Illinois but was expelled. He enrolled in the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, which he was attending when he was drafted into the U.S. Army; he served in Japan and Korea, and he published a series of cartoons for the Pacific Stars and Stripes.

After the war, he worked as a freelance cartoonist, becoming a cartoonist and illustrated travelogue writer for Playboy (1957–77.) He published a book of new adult material, Uncle Shelby’s ABZ Book (1961,) before writing enduring such children’s books as Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back (1963) and The Giving Tree (1964.) His illustrated book of children’s poetry, Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974,) is one of the best-selling volumes of poetry.

While in his 50s, Silverstein took up writing for the stage and wrote many successful songs, including the No. 1 Johnny Cash hit “A Boy Named Sue.”

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Shel Silverstein

Oh the thumb-sucker’s thumb
May look wrinkled and wet
And withered, and white as the snow,
But the taste of a thumb
Is the sweetest taste yet
(As only we thumb-sucker’s know).
—Shel Silverstein
Topics: Habits

If the track is tough and the hill is rough, THINKING you can just ain’t enough!
—Shel Silverstein
Topics: Thinking, Achievement

I will not play at tug o’ war.
I’d rather play at hug o’ war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.
—Shel Silverstein
Topics: Peace

Listen to the mustn’ts, child.
Listen to the don’ts.
Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts.
Listen to the never haves,
then listen close to me…
Anything can happen, child.
Anything can be.
—Shel Silverstein
Topics: Opportunity, Listening

Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-gumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
‘Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain’t been there before.
—Shel Silverstein
Topics: Poetry

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin’ in the sun,
Talkin’ bout the things They woulda-coulda-shoulda done…
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little did.
—Shel Silverstein
Topics: Action

If you are a dreamer come in
If you are a dreamer a wisher a liar
A hoper a pray-er a magic-bean-buyer
If youre a pretender com sit by my fire
For we have some flax golden tales to spin
Come in!
Come in!
—Shel Silverstein
Topics: Dreams

Friendship
I’ve discovered a way to stay friends forever—
There’s really nothing to it.
I simply tell you what to do
And you do it!
—Shel Silverstein
Topics: Friendship

He has the obligation to society that any human being has. I don’t think a satirist has any greater obligation to society than a bricklayer or anybody else.
—Shel Silverstein
Topics: Obligation

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Inspirational Quotes by Shel Silverstein (American Cartoonist, Author)

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