Quotes from Shel Silverstein

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

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 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.

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

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.

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?

I made an airplane out of stone. . . I always did like staying home.

Anything is possible. Anything can be.

If you are a dreamer come in

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.

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.

All The Woulda-Coulda-ShouldasLayin' In The Sun, Talkin' 'Bout The ThingsThey Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done...But All Those Woulda-Coulda-ShouldasAll Ran Away And HidFrom One Little Did.

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

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?

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.

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 myself do not believe in explaining anything.

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

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

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

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

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

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