1. On standing up to our problems.
“But I've bought a big bat.
I'm all ready, you see.
Now my troubles are going
To have troubles with me!”
― “I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew”
2. On treating everyone equally, and likely why we all loved this Doctor growing up.
“I think I can communicate with kids because I don’t try to communicate with kids. Ninety percent of the children’s books patronize the child and say there’s a difference between you and me, so you listen to this story. I, for some reason or another, don’t do that. I treat the child as an equal.”
3. On how much we matter, and can make a difference.
“So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!”
― “Horton Hears a Who!”
4. On political rights...
“I know, up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here at the bottom we, too, should have rights.”
― "Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories"
5. ...and freedoms.
“And the turtles, of course...all the turtles are free, as turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be.”
― “Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories"
6. On being environmentally friendly and speaking for the trees.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It's not.”
― "The Lorax”
7. On the importance of never taking yourself too seriously.
“Nonsense wakes up the brain cells. And it helps develop a sense of humor, which is awfully important in this day and age. 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.”
8. On hope for the future.
“You’ll get mixed up,
of course, as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with
many strange birds as you go.
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!”
― “Oh the Places You’ll Go!”
9. On loving yourself.
“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you. Shout aloud, I am glad to be what I am. Thank goodness I'm not a ham, or a clam, or a dusty old jar of gooseberry jam. I am what I am, what a great thing to be.”
― “Happy Birthday to You!”
10. On how to live every day.
“Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered.”
