Shel Silverstein famous quotes

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Inspirational #Life #Wise

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

#Talking #Speak

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Eye #Feet #Tails

Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Inspiring #Children #Book

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

#Life Lesson #Magic

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Inspirational #Life #Cute

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!
-- Shel Silverstein

#Fear #War #Airplane

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Dark #Views #Turkeys

Anything is possible. Anything can be.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Life #Motivational #Learning

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

#Boys #Tree #Littles

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

#Life Lesson #Giving #Happy Endings

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

#Life Lesson #Silly #Kitchen

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#War #Kissing #Winning

...I am writing these poems from inside a lion...
-- Shel Silverstein

#Writing #Lions

I can be someone's and still be my own.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Stills

...Just 'cause somethin' ain't been done Don't mean it can't be did...
-- Shel Silverstein

#Life Lesson #Mean #Causes

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Believe #Hands #People

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Blue #Skins #Whole Life

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Thinking #Too Much #Said

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

#Life Lesson #Thinking #Track

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Mermaid #Magic #Gold

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?
-- Shel Silverstein

#Life #Blue #Orange

Listen to the voice that speaks inside
-- Shel Silverstein

#Speak

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Cute #Wise #Wisdom

If there is a book you want to read but isn`t written yet,write it.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Life Lesson #Book #Writing

I myself do not believe in explaining anything.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Believe #Explaining

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Sleep #Bird #Breakfast

I will not play at tug o' war, I'd rather play at hug o' war
-- Shel Silverstein

#War #Play #Hug

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

#Bridges #Discipline #Lasts

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

#Want #Looks #Enough

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Eye #Night #Color

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

#Life Lesson #Ems

To me, freedom entitles you to do something, not to not do something.
-- Shel Silverstein

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

#Life Lesson #Sleep #Bird

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

#Sky #Differences

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

#Feelings #Wheat #Beets

The Little Boy and the Old Man Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon." Said the old man, "I do that too." The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants." I do that too," laughed the little old man. Said the little boy, "I often cry." The old man nodded, "So do I." But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems Grown-ups don't pay attention to me." And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand. I know what you mean," said the little old man.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Mean #Boys #Men

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.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Reading #Journey #Years

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? Are you noisy with quiet times? Or are you quiet with noisy times? Are you happy with some sad days? Or are you sad with some happy days? Are you neat with some sloppy ways? Or are you sloppy with some neat ways? And on and on and on and on and on and on he went. I’ll never ask a zebra about stripes...again.
-- Shel Silverstein

#Zebras #White #Black

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

#Stay Strong #Life Lesson #Color