March 2 is Dr. Seuss’ Birthday. It also marks the start of Read Across America week. To commemorate the talented author’s birthday, I’ve compiled some of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes from his books. The majority of these book quotes express a life lesson. Here are eight of my favorite Dr. Seuss book quotes.
Quote 1
A person’s a person, no matter how small.
This quote, taken from Horton Hears a Who is a great life lesson. It reminds us to value people and life. No matter what a person’s size, importance, race or religion, we need to value all people.
Quote 2
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
I love this quote from I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! To me, books are so important. A love for reading helps kids in life and so many other academic areas. Literacy can really take a person “places.”
Quote 3
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.
Taken from Oh The Places You’ll Go, this quote reminds me that we have choices in life. We can make good choices or bad choices. Use your brain and your feet to go in the right direction.
Quote 4
Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest. Except when you don’t. Because, sometimes, you won’t.
This is another great quote from Oh The Places You’ll Go. I like the fact that he encourages kids to do their best yet cautions that “you won’t” always be the best at everything. This is a very realistic message.
Quote 5
When you think things are bad, when you feel sour and blue, when you start to get mad… You should do what I do! Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re really quite lucky! Some people are much more…Oh, ever so much more…Oh, muchly much-much more unlucky than you!”
This one really resonates with me. Sometimes, I get upset or down over the silliest little things. Yet, when I see people who have kids with cancer or people being killed for their religion, I think, wow my problems are so very small. This quote is from Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?
Quote 6
That day, they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches,
and no kind of Sneetch is the BEST on the beaches.
That day, all the Sneetches forgot about stars,
and whether they had one or not upon thars.
This book is excellent for teaching about racial tolerance and the basic don’t judge a book by its cover idea. I love this quote because in the end of The Sneetches, the sneetches realize that fighting due to ones outward appearances is just silly.
Quote 7
Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more….
This classic line from How the Grinch Stole Christmas reveals how Christmas sometimes gets lost in material items. Don’t forget the reason for the season!
Quote 8
I like green eggs and ham! I like them Sam I Am!
This quote is pretty straightforward. This is one of my favorite childhood books. I remember my mom making me green eggs and ham. What a treat! I think everyone should have some green eggs and ham sometime. Another good thing about this quote is it shows that if we give something a try, we might actually like it.
There are so many great messages in Dr. Seuss’ books. I really enjoy how many of his messages are about being decent, making good choices and trying your best. The above commentaries on his quotes are my own interpretations.
What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss quote?
Sources:
Seuss, Dr. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? Random House, 1973.
Seuss, Dr. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Random House, 1999.
Seuss, Dr. Horton Hears a Who Party Edition. Random House, 1982.
Seuss, Dr. I Can Read with My Eyes Shut. Random House, 1978.
Seuss, Dr. The Sneetches and Other Stories. Random House, 1961.
Seuss, Dr. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Random House, 1957.
Seuss, Dr. Green Eggs and Ham. Random House, 1960.
