One of the Best Children’s Authors of the Twentieth Century

The unique writer and illustrator who invented the word “nerd”

Born at the turn of the last century in 1904, he became one of the most prolific children’s authors of the twentieth century. He wrote and illustrated more than 40 books and helped produce many television programs and films during his life. A posthumous release of his book What Pet Should I Get, 24 years after his death, became an instant bestseller! He won numerous awards during his lifetime. The American Library Association gives an award in his name him each year to the “author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.”

He wrote under the pen name Dr. Seuss (his middle name) which he adopted in the 1920s. He added Dr. to the name because his father wanted him to become a doctor. While working for his masters at Oxford University he met his wife, Helen, who encouraged him to pursue drawing as a career instead of continuing his education.

A fascinating tidbit about Geisel is he invented the word “nerd”! It first appeared in his 1950 book If I Ran the Zoo.

He was born Theodor Seuss “Ted” Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts, dying in 1991 at the age of 87. His ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean, near his California home.

I have put together some of my favorite Geisel/Dr. Seuss quotes from a variety of sources. Following each quote is a quick personal takeaway, not to be interpreted as his original intent.

Enjoy!

Uniqueness

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

Don’t conform to the mold society tries to put you in. Be true to who you are and become more so you can do more in and with your life.

“To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.”

Most of us are the world to someone at some point in life, whether as a child or as an adult.

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

Take pride in your uniqueness.

“People are weird. When we find someone with weirdness that is compatible with ours, we team up and call it love.”

While everyone is unique, we are attracted to those that are unique in a way that is compatible with us.

Attitude

“Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”

Add discipline to your life and your troubles will no longer be.

“You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.”

A good attitude and it will take you far in life!

“If you never did you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.”

Lighten up and enjoy life a little!

“Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re really quite lucky!”

The more you believe you are lucky the luckier you will be.

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

Thinking more and differently will help you create something better and new.

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Appreciate what you have and what you get in life.

Success

“Don’t give up! I believe in you all. A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

You only lose when you give up. Regardless of where you are in life keep pushing forward.

“You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go.”

It’s your life and you get to decide what to do with it.

“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.”

It’s not about the now, but about what you are doing to become something more.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”

Then choice is up to you to create your future. Don’t let life take you where it wants to go. Take hold of the steering wheel and direct it where you wish.

“And will you succeed? Yes you will indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)”

You have a far better chance of succeeding than of failing. How will you ever know if you never try?

“Oh, the thinks you can think!”

The source of all creativity and success.

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”

It helps to think outside the box and dream big!

“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.”

You are completely unique!

Learning

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

Reading is a great way to learn and grow that will lead you to new places and heights in life.

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

It takes self-motivation and a desire to learn to live the life you want.

“Think and wonder, wonder and think.”

It is in thinking and dreaming that your creations begin to form.

“There are so many things you can learn about, but you’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.”

Go through life with your eyes wide open!

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

This is the real reason one goes to school. It’s not as much what you learn there as it is learning how to learn that matters

Life

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

Be yourself and speak your mind.

“You oughta be thankful a whole heaping lot for the people and places you’re lucky you’re not.”

If you live in a free first world country you are one of the luckiest people in the world. Just think if you were born in a third world country with no future because of the people who run it.

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

Speaks well to the politics of today.

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

Live every day to the fullest.

“Today is your day, your mountain is waiting. So get on your way!”

Don’t wait to get started, make the most of your day today!

I hope you enjoyed reading some of the wit, wisdom, and humor of this truly unique writer and illustrator. Although most of his work is written for children, we adults can still learn a thing or two from almost all of Geisel’s works. To finish with one final thought from Geisel:

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

Don’t forget to plan your life carefully, always moving forward to keep your balance. Why not pick up one of his books and enter back into your childhood for a little fun?!

Bill Abbate Leadership Writer and Editor in ILLUMINATION.

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