Hindsight is 20/20.  That is a phrase nearly everyone is familiar with.  But what if such 20/20 vision was filtered through the eyes of Dr. Seuss, and the clarity gained could be even more vivid when looking at life “through the wrong end of the telescope?”  

The answer lies in Dr. Seuss’s final message to us, “Kid, You’ll Move Mountains!”

A Summation of 87 Years Looking
“Through The Wrong End of The Telescope” 

Ted Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) saw nearly the entire 20th century unfold across his lifetime. Through it all he absorbed cultures and experiences from around the world.  His love for art, travel, literature and music took him to some of the farthest reaches of the globe and connected him with some of the most important thought leaders and cultural icons of the 20th century.  The world changed him and he, in turn, went on to change the world.

His ability to filter what he learned back to us through his 44 books was a gift that adults and children alike are still unwrapping today.  The most powerful version of this may be his parting sentiments from his last book, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!  

This book was being written at a reflective point in his life when Ted could look back and impart upon future generations the wisdom he had gained. He set out to convey life’s lessons in a concise and digestible manner and, in so doing, struck a chord that had profound results.

“Trust in the journey,” he intimated in the now acclaimed Soar to High Heights artwork.  He tells us there will be dark moments and times of great triumph, but in the end, “Will you succeed?  Yes! You will indeed! (98 and 3/4% guaranteed).”  

The 98 and 3/4% GuaranteE

Ted shares with us life’s realities throughout Oh, The Places You’ll Go!  It is not equal parts win or lose, he suggests, it is how we trust in life that matters most.  The last line ever published during his lifetime brings this home with deep clarity: 

“Will you succeed?  Yes! You will indeed! (98 and ¾ guaranteed)… Kid, you’ll move mountains!”   

This may be one of the most deeply personal, and profoundly impactful of all the messages he conveyed in his lifetime.  In order for it to not only summarize his own life, but to summarize ours and all who may read it in the future, Ted seemed to know that authenticity was paramount.

He tells us quite simply that nothing is 100% certain, life doesn’t work that way. There is always an element of the unknown.  However, once we embrace that notion, anything is possible. 

In the final image of his entire publishing career, he encourages us to believe in ourselves, trust the journey, embrace the unknown, and ultimately, get the most out of the life we are leading.

Other important works from
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!