Quotes by Shel Silverstein

About Shel Silverstein:

Sheldon Allan was an American poet, singer-songwriter, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children's books. He styled himself as Uncle Shelby in some works. Translated into more than 30 languages, his books have sold over 20 million copies.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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, Pl...

Shel Silverstein

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. Let us leave this p...

Shel Silverstein

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

Shel Silverstein

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.

Shel Silverstein

POOR ANGUS Oh what do you do, poor Angus, When hunger makes you cry? "I fix myself an omelet, sir, Of fluffy clouds and sky." Oh what do you wear, poor Angus, When winds blow down the hills? "I sew myself a warm cloak, sir, Of hope and daffodils." Oh...

Shel Silverstein

ENTER THIS DESERTED HOUSE But please walk softly as you do. Frogs dwell here and crickets too. Ain't no ceiling, only blue Jays dwell here and sunbeams too. Floors are flowers - take a few. Ferns grow here and daisies too. Whoosh, swoosh - too-whit, ...

Shel Silverstein

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.

Shel Silverstein

THE ONE WHO STAYED You should have heard the old men cry, You should have heard the biddies When that sad stranger raised his flute And piped away the kiddies. Katy, Tommy, Meg and Bob Followed, skipped gaily, Red-haired Ruth, my brother Rob, And lit...

Shel Silverstein

RAIN I opened my eyes And looked up at the rain. And it dripped in my head And flowed into my brain, And all that I hear as I lie in my bed Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head. I step very softly, I walk very slow, I can’t do a handstand- ...

Shel Silverstein

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

Shel Silverstein

He wasted his wishes on wishing.

Shel Silverstein

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

Shel Silverstein

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

Shel Silverstein

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

Shel Silverstein

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

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.

Shel Silverstein

I myself do not believe in explaining anything.

Shel Silverstein

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

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

Shel Silverstein

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

Shel Silverstein

What you've got to say, you say.

Shel Silverstein

Author Bio

  • NameShel Silverstein
  • DescriptionAmerican poet
  • BornSeptember 25, 1930
  • DiedMay 10, 1999
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionPoet; Composer; Writer; Singer; Musician; Songwriter; Children's Writer
  • WorksWhere The Sidewalk Ends; The Giving Tree