I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.
Genuine
Yes. In The Lorax (1971), The Lorax introduces himself to the Once-ler after the first Truffula tree is cut down (unpaginated picture book), said by the Lorax. These are the character’s words, not a statement in Seuss’s own voice.
Checked against Dr. Seuss, The Lorax (Random House, 1971); quotation reproduced on Penguin Random House’s book page, ISBN 9780394823379, in a full-text transcription.
- Work
- The Lorax, 1971
- Where
- The Lorax introduces himself to the Once-ler after the first Truffula tree is cut down (unpaginated picture book)
- Source
- Dr. Seuss, The Lorax (Random House, 1971); quotation reproduced on Penguin Random House’s book page, ISBN 9780394823379
- Checked
- In a full-text transcription
Researched by AI. Entry updated 24 October 2026. Editorial review: pending. How we check
About this quote
The scene
The Once-ler recounts how the Lorax appeared after he cut down a Truffula tree to make a Thneed. The Lorax introduces himself as the trees’ spokesman and challenges the destruction; the Once-ler continues expanding his business instead of listening.
What it means
The Lorax takes responsibility for defending living things that cannot speak in their own defence.
Topics
Related quotes
- A person’s a person, no matter how small.
- Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
- My nationalism, fierce though it is, is not exclusive, is not devised to harm any nation or individual. Mahatma Gandhi
- Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err and even to sin. Mahatma Gandhi
- I have seen the truth; I have seen and I know that people can be beautiful and happy without losing the power of living on earth. I will not and cannot believe that evil is the normal condition of mankind. Fyodor Dostoevsky
Sources
Cite it
Dr. Seuss, The Lorax (1971), The Lorax introduces himself to the Once-ler after the first Truffula tree is cut down (unpaginated picture book). Spoken by the Lorax. Checked at Quotogeny, https://quotogeny.com/q/i-am-the-lorax-i-speak-for-the-trees/ (24 October 2026).
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Checked by people
People who checked this entry against its source, under their own names. Their checks do not change the verdict: an editor reviews every entry.
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