Seuss-isms: Dr. Seuss' thoughts on writing, creativity, and innovation

Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Seuss Geisel, was more than just an illustrator of quirky cartoons, he was a wise man full of advice on creativity and individuality, including the following:


"[T]he writer who breeds more words than he needs is making a chore for the reader who reads."

"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 guy who'll decide where to go."
— Oh, the Places You'll Go!


"'Cause you never can tell what goes on down below! This pool might be bigger than you or I know!"
— McElligot's Pool


"You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room. "
— "On Becoming a Writer," New York Times


"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."


"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
— I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!


"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the THINKS you can think up if only you try!"
— Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!


Also on 10,000 Words:

• Albert Einstein: Wise words from a wise man
• 25 Things I've Learned About Journalism
• 10 Things I wish they'd told me in J-School
• Journalism Grads: 30 Things You Should Do This Summer