Editor’s note: This article is part of an ongoing series featuring the best retirement quotes and wisdom from top financial experts, leaders, and public figures. Other articles feature Warren Buffett, Michael Jordan, Mark Cuban and Jimmy Buffett.
With memorable rhymes, outlandish characters and out-of-this-world stories, Dr. Seuss has captured the imagination of millions of people around the globe.
From “The Cat in the Hat” to “The Lorax” and all those inspiring books in between, Dr. Seuss taught generations to challenge convention, make bold choices and embrace the unknown.
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His enduring wisdom, however, isn’t just for children. Dr. Seuss’ words can also help retirees live richer lives, offering guidance on how they spend both their money and their time.
Think you can’t get such sage advice from a series of children’s books? Check out these seven powerful Dr. Seuss quotes retirees should live by — and get ready to be bedazzled and amazed.
Dr. Seuss Quotes to Keep Your Retirement Rhyming
1. “Today is your day, your mountain is waiting, so … get on your way!” — Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
You finally made it. After years of working and diligently saving, retirement is here. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop living.
Retirement is your next chapter, and that will mean something different to everyone. For some people, it’s a phased retirement where you strategically reduce your hours. For others, it’s a launchpad into a completely new career. Or maybe you trade the 9-to-5 to pursue a hobby, passion or to spend time with friends and family.
Remember, you aren’t retiring from something; you are retiring to your next big thing. That’s what Dr. Seuss means when he says your mountain is waiting for you. You just have to go climb it!
2. “Look at me, look at me, look at me now! It is fun to have fun, but you have to know how.” — The Cat in the Hat
The early stage of retirement, known as the go-go days, is meant to be thrilling. You’re healthy, energized, and raring to go check those items off your bucket list. And why not? You’ve worked hard and diligently saved for decades.
But as Dr. Seuss reminds us, freedom requires a spending strategy. Retirement can easily span 20, even 30, years, which means longevity is one of the biggest risks retirees face, and without a plan, you can easily outlive your money.
Sure, the 4% withdrawal rule may work for you, but if it doesn’t, the “Common Man“, “Pay Yourself,” “Me-First” and “Permission-to-Spend“ rules are other strategies to consider.
3. “You do not like them, so you say. Try them, try them, and you may. Try them and you may, I say.” — Green Eggs and Ham
You spend 30-plus years mastering your role, your personal brand, and your routine, but when you retire, all of that goes away. You’re forced to reinvent yourself and find a new purpose and routine. Easier said than done, sure, but now is not the time to shut down and resist change, which is what “Green Eggs and Ham” and this quote are all about.
Dr. Seuss wants you to try something new, because you may actually like it, even if it isn’t green eggs and ham. Just ask all the retirees who have mastered a foreign language, launched a new business, climbed a mountain or simply picked up a new hobby.
Part of preparing for retirement is figuring out what you will do when you stop working. Sure, you need to save enough money to live on, but don’t forget to plan for your passion.
4. “I’m sorry to say so, but, sadly, it’s true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you.” — Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Even the best-laid plan can go sideways, and that’s particularly true in retirement. Nobody can predict a serious injury, a major illness, or if the markets will tank unexpectedly, draining your portfolio.
You may face an unanticipated cash flow shortage that forces you to work part-time, or you may hate the hobby you thought you would love and be forced to find a new one. All of this is perfectly fine, and so is every other hiccup that comes your way.
Without a doubt, your retirement journey will have ups, downs, and bumps along the way. Life isn’t perfect, so stop expecting perfection. As long as you anticipate that reality, you’ll be ready to manage those curveballs. Dr. Seuss is delivering a sage and necessary warning: be prepared for anything.
5. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.” — The Lorax
The holidays are a time to give to the less fortunate, but this Dr. Seuss quote holds true any time of the year. It’s a call to action. If you don’t step up and do something, whether it’s through donations, volunteering or giving back in some other way, then nothing will change for the better.
Luckily for the countless charities in the U.S. and around the world, retirees are a pretty generous bunch, especially in America. A recent Fidelity Charitable survey found that half of pre-retirees and retirees ages 50-80 said they were committed to donating their time and money, with 78% saying that charitable giving plays a significant role in their lives.
Are you unsure of how and where to give? We unpack it all with this guide.
6. “If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.” — Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Retirement can be scary; after all, there are many unknowns, from your finances to your well-being. It’s hard not to worry and fret. But once you are in the game, a lot of it is legitimately out of your control. Worrying is an exercise in futility at this point.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t address any cash flow issues by cutting expenses or taking a part-time gig. But incessant worrying will do more harm than good. So take a page from Dr. Seuss and stop stewing. Things often have a way of working themselves out. If they don’t, check out our story on how to have a happy retirement.
7. “You’re in pretty good shape for the shape you are in.” — The Shape of Me and Other Stuff
There is no magic number. There is no single, perfect way to save, no ideal age to retire, and no official blueprint for how you should live. Everyone’s vision is unique.
So listen to Dr. Seuss and stop comparing yourself to others. End the worrying about what your neighbor did, and quit beating yourself up if your original plan went sideways.
Be grateful for the financial position you’ve secured, and focus on maximizing the life you have. Plenty of people are far less fortunate, and Dr. Seuss wants you to remember that!
Just scratching the surface on Seussisms
Retirees — and frankly, everyone else — can learn a thing or two from Dr. Seuss and the endless “Seuss-isms” that pour off the pages of his books.
While they may come off as silly, childish rhymes to some, they actually impart essential lessons and sage advice that older adults can use from their first day as retirees to the waning day of their golden years.
Whether you consider yourself a “Cat in the Hat” fan or more “The Lorax” type, the next time you open your favorite Dr. Seuss book to read to the grandkids or wax nostalgic, make it a mission: See how you can apply one of those memorable rhymes directly to your retirement lifestyle.