How we cite our quotes: (Stanza.Line)
Quote #1
"Hop aboard!" laughed the bug. "And I think that you'll find
That the moose won't object. He's the big-hearted kind!" (6.1-2)
Yeah, and maybe he won't object, but couldn't you at least ask him? He is right there after all. Like most greedy behaviors, this one starts by failing to consider the needs and feelings of others.
Quote #2
"Just building a nest, sir," the Zinn-a-zu said,
And began yanking hairs out of poor Thidwick's head.
And he plucked out exactly two hundred and four!
"Don't worry," he laughed. "You can always grow more!" (11.1-4)
It is one thing to hang out with the guy, but it's a whole other greedy thing to move in without asking the owner. And to then pluck the hairs from Thidwick's body? The greediness just keeps growing.
Quote #3
"They're yours!" called the woodpecker. "Get right inside 'em!
This big-hearted moose runs a public hotel!
Bring your nuts! Bring your wife! Bring your children as well!" (22.1-3)
Hotel is a bit of a misrepresentation here as we're pretty sure you have to pay to stay at a hotel. At least, we always seem to have to. These guys are getting to stay there for exactly zero dollars rent, with a down payment of zilch. And even then they do nothing to help poor Thidwick. Tsk, tsk.
Quote #4
"STOP!" screamed his guests. "You can't do this to us!
These horns are our home and you've no right to take
Our home to the far distant side of the lake!" (29.1-4)
It's possible there's a greed meets environmentalism message here. Assuming this is the squatters' homes, then they aren't treating it very well. Thidwick will die out from underneath them if he doesn't get to the south side of Lake Winna-Bango. Maybe if they worked with Thidwick, they could find a solution to everyone's advantage. Hey, Seuss did write The Lorax after all, so he's no stranger to environmental messages.
Quote #5
His old horns today are
Where you knew they would be.
His guests are still on them,
All stuffed, as they should be. (50.1-4)
And the critter squatters meet their oh-so timely demise at the hands of their greed. At least they didn't go to waste. That is one stunning wall mount; we're sure it'll be the talk of every Harvard Club brandy and cigar party for years to come.