The Ultimate List of Dr. Seuss Quotes

Most of us can trace our earliest life lessons back to Dr. Seuss, and his career itself is a great life lesson in perseverance: legend has it his first book, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, was rejected 27 times by publishers before it finally saw the light of day.

It’s hard to imagine a world, or childhood, without Dr. Seuss books!

Even though he was not an actual doctor, nor was he someone who actually stole Christmas, the beloved author (born Theodor Seuss Geisel) healed plenty of boo-boos over the years by providing zany stories with silly characters who always taught us something about ourselves—fun is good, after all!

Children have loved these stories for generations (adults too!) with some of our favorite Seuss characters making their way to the big screen as well.

We’ve collected some favorite and memorable Dr. Seuss quotes to go with those green eggs about friendship, life, and love to share.

Who wants to read them?

You do, that’s who!

List of the Top Dr. Seuss Quotes

From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.

Adults are just outdated children.

You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.

You are you. Now, isn’t that pleasant?

Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

They say I’m old-fashioned, and live in the past, but sometimes I think progress progresses too fast!

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

Remember me and smile, for it’s better to forget than to remember me and cry.

You’re in pretty good shape for the shape you are in.

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!

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.

If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.

Oh, the things you can find, if you don’t stay behind!

Step with care and great tact, and remember that life’s a great balancing act.

It is better to know how to learn than to know.

A person’s a person, no matter how small.

Being crazy isn’t enough.

Everything stinks till it’s finished.

If you keep your eyes open enough, oh, the stuff you will learn. Oh, the most wonderful stuff.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes—You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…

Words and pictures are yin and yang. Married, they produce a progeny more interesting than either parent. Be awesome! Be a book nut!

If you’d never been born, then you might be an Isn’t! An Isn’t has no fun at all. No, he didn’t!

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!

All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you’ll be quite a lot!

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness, how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?

Kid, you’ll move mountains.

You find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax. All you need is a book.

You do not like them. So you say. Try them! Try them! And you may!

So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!

Things may happen and often do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

Think and wonder, wonder and think.

Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night…everyone is just waiting!

Simple it’s not, I am afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

Reading can take you places you have never been before.

It is fun to have fun but you have to know how.

It doesn’t matter what it is. What matters is what it will become.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you.

He who makes a beast out of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

Humor has a tremendous place in this sordid world. It’s more than just a matter of laughing. If you can see things out of whack, then you can see how things can be in whack.

I know, up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights.

Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.

My trouble was I had a mind but I couldn’t make it up!

In the places I go there are things that I see that I never could spell if I stopped with the Z.

Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks.

Life’s too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason.

You really can’t teach reading as a science. Love gets mixed up in it.

Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!

And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed.

You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.

Why fit in when you’re born to stand out?

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.

Be who you are and say what you mean. Because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.

Be who you are and say what you mean. Because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not

So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go.

And you very small persons will not have to die if you make yourselves heard! So come on, now, and TRY!

As time goes on and more books continue to be published, it sometimes seems like there’s a new childhood favorite or classic every year. However, the books of Dr. Seuss have always been iconic, and they always will.

Want more Dr. Seuss? Check out our list of the top Dr. Seuss reading quotes for book lovers!