Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. —Shel Silverstein
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”

Shel Silverstein POET, SONGWRITER, MUSICIAN

Hope
Pass It On®
Pass It On®

  email   print

Your Comments
Abby Snyder from Shelby  MAY 20, 2019
i love this poem
Anonymous OCTOBER 5, 2018
Lovely
Shana from Oregon JULY 19, 2018
One of my very favorite poems, ever.
Arlene from Mayville , Michigan. MARCH 28, 2017
Have some of his books,, had such a way with words.
Carrie from Usa FEBRUARY 16, 2016
Yea, I'm touched.
See All Comments

Here are some other inspiring quotes you might like.
Nothing is ever lost by courtesy. It is the cheapest of pleasures, costs nothing, and conveys much. #<Author:0x00007f14f0781ac0>
COURTESY
There are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, may they always be! #<Author:0x00007f14f07c3ab0>
FRIENDSHIP
It's faith that will take you through, and determination that will drive you. #<Author:0x00007f14f07f2cc0>
DRIVE
True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are. #<Author:0x00007f14f0843e18>
INCLUDING OTHERS
Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good. #<Author:0x00007f14f0873dc0>
VOLUNTEERING
Civility is the art and act of caring for others. #<Author:0x00007f14f08a8278>
CIVILITY
The cure for anything is salt water - tears, sweat, or the sea. #<Author:0x00007f14f08d9968>
APPRECIATING NATURE
If you really love something, just go ahead and do it. #<Author:0x00007f14f08fc7d8>
LOVE
Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work. #<Author:0x00007f14f093bde8>
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
It takes two flints to make a fire. #<Author:0x00007f14f097d388>
TEAM WORK
Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. #<Author:0x00007f14f09bd0a0>
PARENTING
Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict. #<Author:0x00007f14f09f4230>
STRENGTH
Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone's hand is the beginning of a journey. At other times, it is allowing another to take yours. #<Author:0x00007f14f0a36428>
REACHING OUT
We find greatest joy, not in getting, but in expressing what we are. Men do not really live for honors or for pay; their gladness is not the taking and holding, but in doing, the striving, the building, the living. It is a higher joy to teach than to be taught. It is good to get justice, but better to do it; fun to have things but more to make them. The happy man is he who lives the life of love, not for the honors it may bring, but for the life itself. #<Author:0x00007f14f0a5e270>
JOY
If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself. #<Author:0x00007f14f0a7c5b8>
CHARACTER
Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. #<Author:0x00007f14f0aa8320>
GOOD MANNERS
All Pass It On® Quotes