Quotes by Shel Silverstein

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.

Tell me I'm clever, Tell me I'm kind, Tell me I'm talented, Tell me I'm cute, Tell me I'm sensitive, Graceful and wise, Tell me I'm perfect - But tell me the truth.

What you've got to say, you say.

When I was younger, I wasn't making it, and I was mad at everybody who was.

I want to go everywhere, look at and listen to everything. You can go crazy with some of the wonderful stuff there is in life.

The child asks, 'Why don't I have this happiness thing you're telling me about?'

I'm free to leave... go wherever I please, do whatever I want; I believe everyone should live like that. Don't be dependent on anyone else -- man, woman, child, or dog.

I was always prepared for success but that means that I have to be prepared for failure, too'.

This boat that we just built is just fine and don't try to tell us it's not the sides and the back are divine it's the bottom I guess we forgot.

And she loved a little boy very much, even more than she loved herself.

Do a loony goony dance Cross the kitchen floor, Put something silly in the world that ain't been there before.

I didn't have a lot of friends. I just walked around a lot and made up stories in my head. Then I'd go home and write them down. That's how I got started.

People are always giving you credit for really wanting to say more than you said.

I can write a poem in 10 minutes. I like writing songs; I can write songs in 5 or 10 minutes. My concentration seems very short.

To me, freedom entitles you to do something, not to not do something.

If you're nasty, I won't fight.
If you're rough, well that's just you.
If you're mean, that's alright too.
Whatever you are is all okay.
I don't like you anyway.

This boat that we just built is just fine -- And don't try to tell us it's not The sides and the back are divine -- It's the bottom I guess we forgot.

Stand-up comics reflect less of a visual humor and more of a commentary.

Talked my head off Worked my tail off Cried my eyes out Walked my feet off Sang my heat out So you see, There's really not much left of me.

Sometimes I get so depressed
'Bout what I haven't done.
-NEVER.

If you are a dreamer, come in.

If you are a dreamer come in.

It's amazing the difference
A bit of sky can make.

The Yesees said yes to anything That anyone suggested. The Noees said no to everything Unless it was proven and tested. So the Yesees all died of much too much And the Noees all died of fright, But somehow I think the Thinkforyourselfees All came out all right.

Ricky was L but he's home with the flu, Lizzie, our O, had some homework to do, Mitchell, E prob'ly got lost on the way, So I'm all of the love that could make it today.

If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer...
If you're a pretender come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!

TREE HOUSE A tree house, a free house, A secret you and me house, A high up in the leafy branches Cozy as can be house. A street house, a neat house, Be sure to wipe your feet house Is not my kind of house at all- Let's go live in a tree house.

EARLY BIRD
Oh, if you're a bird, be an early bird
And catch the worm for your breakfast plate.
If you're a bird, be an early early bird --
But if you're a worm, sleep late.

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.

I'm making a list
I'm making a list of things I must say
For politeness,
And goodness and kindness and gentleness
Sweetness and rightness:
Hello
Pardon me
How are you?
Excuse me
Bless you
May I?
Thank you
Goodbye
If you know some that I've forgot,
Please stick them in you eye!

I can be somebody's and still be my own.

I made myself a snowball
As perfect as can be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet,
And let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas
And a pillow for it's head.
Then last night it ran away,
But first -- It wet the bed.

Once there was a tree, and she loved a little boy.

There is a place where the sidewalk ends.

I made myself a snowball As perfect as can be. I thought I'd keep it as a pet, And let it sleep with me. I made it some pajamas And a pillow for it's head. Then last night it ran away, But first -- It wet the bed.

Standing is stupid,
Crawling's a curse,
Skipping is silly,
Walking is worse.
Hopping is hopeless,
Jumping's a chore,
Sitting is senseless,
Leaning's a bore.
Running's ridiculous,
Jogging's insane-
Guess I'll go upstairs and
Lie down again.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my toys will break.
So none of the other kids can use 'em....
Amen.

He wasted his wishes on wishing.

Each time I see the Upside-Down Man Standing in the water, I look at him and start to laugh, Although I shouldn't oughtter. For maybe in another world Another time Another town, Maybe HE is right side up And I am upside down.

I couldn't play ball. I couldn't dance. Luckily, the girls didn't want me. Not much I could do about that. So I started to draw and to write. By the time I got to where I was attracting girls, I was already into work, and it was more important to me.

G'bye, I'm going out to play!

If you have to dry the dishes (Such an awful boring chore) If you have to dry the dishes ('Stead of going to the store) If you have to dry the dishes And you drop one on the floor Maybe they won't let you Dry the dishes anymore.

INVISIBLE BOY And here we see the invisible boy In his lovely invisible house, Feeding a piece of invisible cheese To a little invisible mouse. Oh, what a beautiful picture to see! Will you draw an invisible picture for me?

It's all the same to the clam.

My skin is kind of sort of brownish pinkish yellowish white. My eyes are greyish blueish green, but I'm told they look orange in the night. My hair is reddish blondish brown, but its silver when its wet, and all the colors I am inside have not been invented yet.

I've found my missin' piece So grease my knees and fleece my bees I've found my missin' piece!

This bridge will take you halfway there -- the last few steps you will have to take yourself.

If you're nasty, I won't fight. If you're rough, well that's just you. If you're mean, that's alright too. Whatever you are is all okay. I don't like you anyway.

Whatever you are is all okay. I don't like you anyway.

Although I cannot see your face As you flip these poems awhile, Somewhere from some far-off place I hear you laughing -- and I smile.

FROZEN DREAM I'll take the dream I had last night And put it in my freezer, So someday long and far away When I'm an old grey geezer, I'll take it out and thaw it out, This lovely dream I've frozen, And boil it up and sit me down A dip my old cold toes in.

Since my fried left me,I've got nothing to do but walking.I walk to forget.I walk,I escape,I get further.My friend will not come back,now I am a marathon man.

It was missing a piece. And it was not happy. So it set off in search of its missing piece. And as it rolled it sang this song -- Oh I'm lookin' for my missin' piece I'm lookin' for my missin' piece Hi-dee-ho, here I go, Lookin' for my missin' piece.

Oh I'm lookin' for my missin' piece I'm lookin' for my missin' piece Hi-dee-ho, here I go, Lookin' for my missin' piece.

Do a loony-goony dance 'Cross the kitchen floor, Put something silly in the world That ain't been there before.

How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live 'em.

It's always a nice feeling, having people think that you feel things much deeper than you're allowed to say, but this isn't true. If you want to find out what a writer or a cartoonist really feels, look at his work. That's enough.

I'm making a list I'm making a list of things I must say For politeness, And goodness and kindness and gentleness Sweetness and rightness: Hello Pardon me How are you? Excuse me Bless you May I? Thank you Goodbye If you know some that I've forgot, Please stick them in you eye!

There is a place where the sidewalk ends, And before the street begins, And there the grass grows soft and white, And there the sun burns crimson bright, And there the moon-bird rests from his flight To cool in the peppermint wind.

Early bird Oh, if you're a bird, be an early bird And catch the worm for your breakfast plate. If you're a bird, be an early bird-- But if you're a worm, sleep late.

If you're a bird, be an early bird. But if you're a worm, sleep late.

So please get your rags

And your polishing jars,

Somebody has to go polish the stars.

Once i spoke the language of the flowers,Once i undrestand each word the caterpillar said,Once i smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings.

Birds are flyin' south for winter. Here's the Weird-Bird headin' north, Wings a-flappin', beak a-chatterin', Cold head bobbin' back 'n' forth. He says, It's not that I like ice Or freezin' winds and snowy ground. It's just sometimes it's kind of nice To be the only bird in town.

A spider lives inside my head Who weaves a strange and wondrous web Of silken threads and silver strings To catch all sorts of flying things, Like crumbs of thoughts and bits of smiles And specks of dried-up tears, And dust of dreams that catch and cling For years and years and years.

I was so lucky that I didn't have anyone to copy, be impressed by. I had developed my own style, I was creating before I knew there was a Thurber, a Benchley, a Price and a Steinberg. I never saw their work until I was around thirty.

I tried on the farmer's hat, Didn't fit... A little too small -- just a bit Too floppy... . I tried on the summer sun, Felt good. Nice and warm -- knew it would. Tried the grass beneath bare feet, Felt neat. Finally, finally felt well dressed, Nature's clothes fit me best.

All The Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas Layin' In The Sun, Talkin' 'Bout The Things They Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done... But All Those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas All Ran Away And Hid From One Little Did.

I asked the Zebra,

are you black with white stripes?

Or white with black stripes?

And the zebra asked me,

Are you good with bad habits?

Or are you bad with good habits?

Comfortable shoes and the freedom to leave are the two most important things in life.

No teacher, preacher, parent, friend, or wise man can decide what's right for you.

Listen to the voice that speaks inside.

You don't have to shoot me, says the young lion. I will be your rug and I will lie in front of your fireplace and I won't move a muscle and you can sit on me and toast all the marshmallows you want. I love marshmallows.

Runny's Nicpic One day Runny Babbit Met little Franny Fog. He said, Let's have a nicpic Down by the lollow hog. He brought some cutter bookies, Some teanuts and some pea. And what did Franny Fog bring? Her whole fog framily.

There was a lot about the military that I thought was pretty silly, but these cartoons weren't meant to take a poke at anybody or anything. They were meant to make people laugh.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black And the dark street winds and bends. Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow, And watch where the chalk-white arrows go To the place where the sidewalk ends.

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.

Underneath my outside face There's a face that none can see. A little less smiley, A little less sure, But a whole lot more like me.

The Voice There is a voice inside of you That whispers all day long, I feel this is right for me, I know that this is wrong. No teacher, preacher, parent, friend Or wise man can decide What's right for you -- just listen to The voice that speaks inside.

We're all worth the same

When we turn off the light.

The baby bat Screamed out in fright, 'Turn on the dark, I'm afraid of the light.

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).

What did the carrot say to the wheat? Lettuce rest, I'm feeling beet.

The hens they all cackle, the roosters all beg,

But I will not hatch, I will not hatch.

For I hear all the talk of pollution and war

As the people all shout and the airplane roar,

So I'm staying in here where it's safe and it's warm,

And I WILL NOT HATCH!

TURNING INTO
Swingin' from
A hick'ry bough
I felt so brave
I hollered...
WoW
But down I fell
Just like a bomb
And I heard my wow
Turn into...
MoM.

Rockabye Baby, in the treetop
Dont you know a treetop
is no safe place to rock?
And who put you up there,
and your cradle too?
Baby,
I think someone down here
has got it in for you!

ALICE
She drank from a bottle called DRINK ME
And she grew so tall,
She ate from a plate called TASTE ME
And down she shrank so small.
And so she changed, while other folks
Never tried nothin' at all.

The Voice

There is a voice inside of you
That whispers all day long,
I feel this is right for me,
I know that this is wrong.
No teacher, preacher, parent, friend
Or wise man can decide
What's right for you -- just listen to
The voice that speaks inside.

She had blue skin, And so did he. He kept it hid And so did she. They searched for blue Their whole life through, Then passed right by- And never knew.

Instead of tug o' war, let's play hug o' war.

I will not play at tug o' war, I'd rather play at hug o' war.

I will not play tug o' war. I'd rather play 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.

I'd rather play tennis than go to the dentist. I'd rather play soccer than go to the doctor. I'd rather play Hurk than go to work. Hurk? Hurk? What's Hurk? I don't know but it MUST be better than work!

And the tree was happy.

My beard grows down to my toes, I never wears no clothes, I wraps my hair Around my bare, And down the road I goes.

Magic Sandra's seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susy spied an elf, But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself.

But all the magic I have known
I've had to make myself.

But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself.

We can't hold hands― Someone might see. Won't you please Hold toes with me?

And all the colors I am inside have not been invented yet.

There are no happy endings. Endings are the saddest part, So just give me a happy middle And a very happy start.

Tell me I'm clever, Tell me I'm kind, Tell me I'm talented, Tell me I'm cute, Tell me I'm sensitive, Graceful and wise, Tell me I'm perfect -- But tell me the truth.

Do a loony-goony dance
'Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain't been there before.

When the light turns green, you go. When the light turns red, you stop. But what do you do when the light turns blue with orange and lavender spots?

Magic
Sandra's seen a leprechaun,
Eddie touched a troll,
Laurie danced with witches once,
Charlie found some goblins gold.
Donald heard a mermaid sing,
Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known
I've had to make myself.

Teddy said it was a hat, So I put it on. Now dad is saying, where the heck's the toilet plunger gone?

A hippo sandwich is easy to make. All you do is simply take one slice of bread, one slice of cake, some mayonnaise, one onion ring, one hippopotamus, one piece of string, a dash of pepper. That ought to do it. And now comes the problem... biting into it!

She had blue skin. And so did he. He kept it hid, And so did she. They searched for blue Their whole life through, Then passed right by -- And never knew.

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.

Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.

This boat that we just built is just fine --
And don't try to tell us it's not
The sides and the back are divine --
It's the bottom I guess we forgot.

The baby bat
Screamed out in fright,
'Turn on the dark,
I'm afraid of the light.

She had blue skin,
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by-
And never knew.

Thanksgiving dinner's sad and thankless. Christmas dinner's dark and blue. When you stop and try to see it From the turkey's point of view.

How many slams in an old screen door? Depends how loud you shut it. How many slices in a bread? Depends how thin you cut it. How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live 'em. How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give 'em.

I believe that if you don't want to do anything, then sit there and don't do it, but don't expect people to hand you a corn beef sandwich and wash your socks for you and unzip your fly for you.

I know a way to stay friends forever, There's really nothing to it, I tell you what to do, And you do it.

I myself do not believe in explaining anything.

If the track is tough and the hill is rough, THINKING you can just ain't enough!

If you're behind the times, they won't notice you. If you're right in tune with them, you're no better than they are, so they won't care much for you. Be just a little ahead of them.

Imagine -- four years you could have spent travelling around Europe meeting people, or going to the Far East of Africa or India, meeting people, exchanging ideas, reading all you wanted to anyway, and instead I wasted it at Roosevelt.

Never explain what you do. It speaks for itself. You only muddle it by talking about it.

You'd better get your laugh while you're making your point, or you won't be doing it very long.

If you want to find out what a writer or a cartoonist really feels, look at his work. That's enough.

And the tree was happy