Quotes from Falling Up

Shel Silverstein ·  178 pages

Rating: (116.4K votes)


“Tell my 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, quote from Falling Up


“why can't you see i'm a kid', said the kid.
Why try to make me like you?
Why are you hurt when I don't cuddle?
Why do you sigh when I splash through a puddle?
Why do you scream when I do what I did?
Im a kid.”
― Shel Silverstein, quote from Falling Up


“The Voice

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, quote from Falling Up


“BODY LANGUAGE

Said my feet, "Hey, let's go dancin'."

Said my tongue, "Let's have a snack."

Said my brain, "Let's read a good book."

Said my eyes, "Let's take a nap."

Said my legs, "Let's just go walkin'."

Said my back, "Let's take a ride."

Said my seat, "Well, I'll just sit right here,'Til all of you decide.”
― Shel Silverstein, quote from Falling Up


“William tell, William tell,
Take your arrow, grip it well,
There’s the apple– – aim for the middle– –
Oh well … you just missed by a little.”
― Shel Silverstein, quote from Falling Up



About the author

Shel Silverstein
Born place: in Chicago, IL, The United States
Born date September 25, 1930
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“In the Land under the Hill, in the Time Before …

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Once upon a time, there were two boys come to the land of Faerie, brothers noble and bold. One brother caught a glimpse of the fair lady and, thunderstruck by her beauty, pledged himself to her. Pledged himself to stay. This was the boy Andrew. His brother, the boy Arthur, would not leave his side.
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She did not lie, for she could not lie.

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For seven years they lived in joy. She owned his heart, and he hers, and somewhere, beyond, Arthur screamed and screamed. Andrew didn’t know; the lady didn’t care; and so they were happy.
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The lady set the useless brother free and allowed him to believe he had freed himself.
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The lady let her lover renounce her and run away.
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This is how a faerie loves: with her whole body and soul.

This is how a faerie loves: with destruction.

I love you, she told him, night after night, for seven years. Faeries cannot lie, and he knew that.
I love you, he told her, night after night, for seven years. Humans can lie, and so she let him believe he lied to her, and she let his brother and his children believe it, and she died hoping they would believe it forever.

This is how a faerie loves: with a gift.”
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