16 Inspiring Quotes from Dr. Seuss
People recommend motivational books to me all the time. I’ll be honest, most of the time I tune them out as they begin talking. The ones I do listen to, I never read.
But as I sat down to read Dr. Seuss’s “Oh the Places You Will Go” to my 4 year old son last night, I found some quotes that were truly inspiring. When I got downstairs I fired up the old Google and searched for more quotes from the good doctor. I found meaning in the simple, fun ways that he said things. Here are 16 of my favorites. If you’ve never read them you should, because these quotes are fun, and fun is good.
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“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”
You’re in control of yourself. Never forget that. Sure, there are external factors which influence us all, but remember that you’re in control. You can steer yourself in 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.”
Your success is left to you. You know what you know. Where will it take you?
More like this: 25 Inspirational Quotes to Motivate You in 2015
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Change comes from the people who care, the ones who keep working toward their goals even as the road begins to slant upward.
“Don’t give up. I believe in you all. A person’s a person. No matter how small.”
The next time you start to feel overwhelmed and that you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito.
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
We hear it all the time- go with the flow, don’t swim upstream, etc. Why not? Don’t be afraid of what makes you unique.
“Think and wonder. Wonder and think.”
It’s becoming harder and harder to do in a world where we’re constantly barraged by different ideas, but it’s important to take a time out and just think. You might amaze yourself with what you come up with.
“You are you. Now isn’t that pleasant?”
You’re you- isn’t that great. Who else would you want to be?
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Perhaps the greatest gift ever given to man was the ability to read. The possibility to read and understand ideas from different locations, mindsets and times is what makes humans human.
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”
Feeling stuck on a problem? You may be over-complicating things. Step back and look for the simplest solution out there. Usually, it’s the best.
“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.”
Your success is there. But you have to go get it. Today is the day. Get started.
“Today I shall behave as if this is the day I will be remembered.”
You never know when you might finally break through. Try to wake up every morning with the attitude that today may be that day.
More: 25 More Motivational Quotes to Jump Start Your Success
“Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re really quite lucky.”
When things start going downhill it’s easy to focus on the negative. Don’t. Instead look at the positives in your life and you’ll see that you’re really quite lucky.
“Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.”
There’s always a different perspective. Sometimes you have to look at things in an unconventional way to see the truth.
“You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.”
So many times we’re so scared to see the bad that we shut ourselves up — and end up missing the good. Don’t be afraid. Take it all in.
“And will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed! (93 and 3/4 percent guaranteed).”
Of course, there is no guarantee of success anywhere. Business, entrepreneurship, life in general are risks. This quote’s all about your mindset. What could you do if you truly believed in your success?
“On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.”
Just like there’s no sure way to succeed, there’s no sure way to solve all of your problems either. But there is a sure way to not solve them — avoid them.
So, there you have it- 16 of my favorites from Dr. Seuss. What would you add to this list?
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