Horton Hatches the Egg Quotes

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Source: Horton Hatches the Egg

Author: Dr. Seuss

"I meant what I said and I said what I meant."

I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful one-hundred percent!

Context

When Horton the elephant agrees to sit on Mayzie the bird's nest so she can rest, he doesn't realize what he's in for.

Throughout Horton Hatches the Egg, he repeats this quote over and over as he sits on the nest, keeping her egg warm through rainstorms and snow. He even stays put as other animals ridicule him—and when hunters capture and sell him to a circus. 

Now that's devotion.

Where you've heard it

Even way after those preschool days are over, people reference this line all the time to affirm what they said or promised they would do. Sometimes we see it in the headlines as news sources poke fun at politicians—and occasionally politicians even say it themselves.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

How could we call this pretentious? That wouldn't be in the Dr. Seuss spirit. And besides—we like a person who's in touch with their inner child.