31 quotes
The Once-ler's Observation on Abandonment
The Once-ler
Check it out, guys. Where did everybody go?
[looks around, noticing all of the animals are gone; shrugs, then grabs the tree by the trunk and drags it away toward his cottage]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Meeting the Powerful Man in Town
Mrs. Wiggins
Ted, I would like you to meet Mr. O'Hare, the most powerful man in town.
Aloysius O'Hare
There he is! Hello, Ted.
Ted
Uh...Hi.
[nervously]
Mrs. Wiggins
Isn't he clever, Mr. O'Hare? He knows his own name and everything.
Aloysius O'Hare
You know what I would love right now, Mrs. Wiggins? A delicious cookie. Wonderful. Teddy and I'll stay here and talk.
Mrs. Wiggins
Sure, why don't you go ahead and adopt him? I'm just kidding. That was a joke. I was just joking. I'll get your cookie.
[leaves]
Aloysius O'Hare
I know you have it, Ted. So, let's put an end to this nonsense, shall we? Hand it over.
[Ted angrily faces him]
Ted
I'm sorry...I don't know what you're talking about.
Aloysius O'Hare
Really? Well, then...I guess you wouldn't mind us checking your room.
Ted
No, no, no!
Aloysius O'Hare
Morty! McGurk! Find the seed!
Ted
No, you can't go up there! Guys, this is ridiculous. Stop! Hey! No, you can't come in my room!
Aloysius O'Hare
Find it! Find it!
[barges into Ted's room trying to find and destroy the Truffula seed]
Mrs. Wiggins
What is going on here?
[appears]
Aloysius O'Hare
THIS DOESN'T INVOLVE YOU! Get back downstairs!
[to Bernice, after she comes up stairs and stares on in shock]
Mrs. Wiggins
Excuse me, down there! I don't care who you are, you little crazy baby-man! Get out of my house now. This is outrageous.
[to O'Hare]
Aloysius O'Hare
Fine. Sorry. Must have been a misunderstanding. We'll be leaving now. And my apologies, Ted. You be safe.
[chuckles; takes a plate of cookies that Mrs. Wiggins is holding, then leaves]
Mrs. Wiggins
Mind telling me what's going on here?
[sputters]
Ted
The seed! Where is it?
Mrs. Wiggins
Seed?
Ted
Where's Grammy?
[finds Grammy Norma's cane]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Curiosity About Trees and Growing Up
The Once-ler
Why are you so interested in trees anyway? Why aren't you like other kids? Break-dancing and wearing bell-bottoms and playing the Donkey Kongs?
Ted
Yeah. Right, right. I don't know. Uh, I just thought it might be kinda cool to have one, you know.
[laughs]
The Once-ler
Aaah, it's a girl, isn't it?
[knowingly]
Ted
What? No!
[scoffs]
The Once-ler
Really? Cause when a guy does something stupid once, well, that's because he's a guy, but if he does the same stupid thing twice, that's usually to impress some girl.
Ted
Hey, she is not some girlǃ She's a woman...in high school...and she loves trees, and I'm gonna get her one.
[about Audrey]
The Once-ler
Aww. How nice to see someone so undeterred by things like reality.
Ted
Thank you.
[sincerely]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Over Tree Destruction
The Lorax
Hey! Did you chop down this tree?
[first meeting the Once-ler; the Once-ler shrieks and falls backwards]
Once-ler
Uh, no. Who did it? What's that?! I think he did it.
[gasps; the Lorax looks back and Once-ler drops his axe on Pipsqueak the Bar-ba-loot, blaming him]
The Lorax
Leave! Vacate the premises! Take your axe and get out!
[growls]
The Once-ler
And who are you?
[pokes the Lorax]
The Lorax
Hey, hey! I'm the Lorax, guardian of the forest. I speak for the trees. So you're telling me that you didn't see me magically appear out of that stump, with all the lightning and thunder and stuff. You didn't see any of that?
[the Once-ler stares at him]
The Once-ler
No, but that sounds amazing. Can I see some of that?
The Lorax
Uh, yeah. I could show you, but that's not how it works.
The Once-ler
Okay, um...Didn't really happen. Oh, I know what you want! I've got one of these for the cutest little guy I ever saw. Yummy-yummy-yummy...
The Lorax
How dare you! Give me that! Mmm. I'm going to eat this, but I am highly offended by it.
The Once-ler
Whoa! What are you...Hey, Mustache! Will you stop that?! What's your deal, man?!
The Lorax
Time for you to go, Beanpole!
The Once-ler
Pull them right out. Just going to put them right back in. We can do this all day.
The Lorax
Whoa! Stop right there! Stop it! So you would hammer 1 of nature's innocent creatures?
The Once-ler
What? No! I would never hit this little guy. ]
[[The Lego Movie|You, on the other hand, I would gladly pound you and your mustache into the ground!]
The Lorax
Behold! The intruder and his violent ways. Shame on you. For shame!
[turns to all of the watching animals]
The Once-ler
All right, you know what? That's it! You listen to me, you furry meatloaf. I'm going to chop down as many trees as I need. Okay? Newsflash! Not going anywhere! ]
[points at Lorax; [Shrek|End of story.]
The Lorax
Then you leave me no choice. If you're not gone by the time the sun sets on this valley, all the forces of nature will be unleashed upon you and curse you until the end of your days! You have been warned. Thanks.
The Once-ler
Yeah, okay.
The Lorax
You have been warned.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Young Man's Admiration for Nature and Love
Ted Wiggins
Hey, she is not some girlǃ She's a woman in high school, and she loves trees. And I'm gonna get her one.
[referring to Audrey; to The Once-ler]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Taking Responsibility for Environmental Change
Ted
So, this is really all your fault. You destroyed everything.
The Once-ler
Yes. And each day since the Lorax left, I've sat here, regretting everything I've done. Staring at that word, "unless," a-and wondering what it meant. But know I'm thinking... Well, maybe you're the reason why the Lorax left that word there.
[ashamed]
Ted
Me? Why would he leave that for me?
[shocked]
The Once-ler
Because unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing's going to get better. It's not. The last Truffula seed. You need to plant it, Ted.
[sticks his arm out the window and drops a single seed, which Ted catches]
Ted
Yeah, but... nobody cares about trees anymore!
The Once-ler
Then make them care! Plant the seed in the middle of town where everyone can see! Change the way things are. I know it may seem small and insignificant, but it's not what it is. It's about what it can become. That's not just a seed... anymore than you're just a boy.
Ted
I won't let you down!
[drives back to Thneedville]
The Once-ler
I know.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Limitations of a Comfortable Environment
Aloysius O'Hare
You've got a beautiful town here, lots of fun stuff to occupy your short attention span. I can't think of any reason, you'd ever wanna go outside of town... again. Ever.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Aloysius O'Hare's Unyielding Confidence
Aloysius O'Hare
Nobody beats Aloysius O'Hare! What the-?! "Damn it!
[the elevator shuts in his face and rises]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Musical Journey with a Tree Quest
Ted
Hey, hey, hey, hey, wait. Wait a minute.
[interrupting the story]
Once-ler
Excuse me?
Ted
Yeah. That's awesome. You know, feeding junk food to forest animals? That's great. But, uh, is there a musical number where you show me how to get a tree? Cause I'd love to hear that one.
[chuckles]
Once-ler
Oh, yes. Right after the musical number about the kid who kept interrupting the story and was never heard from ever again. Mm-hmm.
[sarcastically]
Ted
Right. Got it. Proceed.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Consequences of Environmental Disregard
The Once-ler
Little did I know that by chopping down that tree I had just summoned a mystical creature as old as time itself. The legendary, slightly annoying, guardian of the forest. The Lorax.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Nostalgia for Nature's Beauty and Softness
Audrey
Those are trees. Real ones. They used to grow all around here. And people said that the touch of their tufts was softer than anything, even silk. And they smelled like butterfly milk.
[Referring to her mural]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation and Challenge in The Lorax
Aloysius O'Hare
Bring it on, Teddy! You don't have the guts!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unexpected Visit and Cozy Misunderstanding
The Once-ler
Ow! Okay, uh, what are you...? Question, what are they doing here? And, uh, follow up if I may, what are you doing here?!
[stops upon noticing that the Bar-ba-loots, Humming Fish, and Swommee-Swans are also sleeping in his house]
The Lorax
Well, after the incident last night, we found one of your socks and came here to return it, but when we got here, you were asleep.
[chuckles embarrassingly]
The Once-ler
What? Eww! Exactly, and sleeping is the body's way of telling other people to go away.
[looks up to see a sleeping Bar-ba-loot drooling down on him]
The Lorax
I know, but you looked so cozy. And it was cold outside, and we just fell asleep. No harm done.
The Once-ler
No harm done", "no harm done"? Ugh, okay. Okay, I put my lips on those. Well, I used to, anyway. Ew. Did you just...in my bowl?!
[sees Humming Fish bathing in soap; sees Swommee-Swan laying an egg]
The Lorax
Why do you even own this? You don't have a mustache.
[uses the Once-ler's toothbrush to comb his mustache]
The Once-ler
Ugh! Okay, that's it!
[disgusted and angry]
The Lorax
What? I thought we made a deal last night.
The Once-ler
Yes, we did. And I said I wouldn't chop down any more trees.
The Lorax
And I said I was going to keep an eye on you. I'm starving! What's for breakfast? Breakfast is overrated.
[looks into the fridge to find the big Bar-ba-loot eating entire cubes of butter; closes the fridge door]
The Once-ler
You know what? I got work to do. Yep! I got to go into town and sell my Thneed!
[strains; quickly changes outfit]
The Lorax
You chopped down one of my trees to make that piece of garbage?
[when the Once-ler shows the Thneed to him; laughs]
The Once-ler
Garbage"? Oh, no. Oh, no! You do not get it. This is a revolutionary product that will change the world as we know it. It has a million uses! Look at this. It's a swimsuit! Mud tracked all over your floor by uninvited guests? Well, the Thneed sure comes in handy for that! But wait, there's more! Thanks to its all-natural microfibers, the Thneed is super-absorbent! It also works as a hat. Of course, you probably want to wring it out first.
[Lorax isn’t Amused.]
The Lorax
Go ahead. Knock yourself out, but nobody is going to buy that thing.
The Once-ler
Good to know. Well, fortunately, you are not the target market, weirdo.
The Lorax
You're bringing a guitar?
The Once-ler
Oh, yeah. I got a little jingle. I'm gonna blow some minds, gonna sell some Thneeds! Yeah.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Disagreement About Responsibility and Consequences
The Once-ler
I was heading into the light, and you pulled me right back, and here I am! You saved my life!
[has just been revived by the Lorax; hugs the Lorax]
The Lorax
Yeah, I did, but you know, it's not that big a deal.
The Once-ler
It is a big deal! Look, I almost went over that waterfall! Wait...On my bed. How did my bed get in the river?
[realizes]
The Lorax
Uh, about that, uh...actually, um... I put your bed in the water. I didn't mean you any harm. I just wanted to calmly float you away. Look, everyone here needs the trees and you're chopping them down! So, we've got a big problem.
[mumbles; the Once-ler drops him in shock]
The Once-ler
Alright, look. I hereby swear that I will never chop down another tree. I promise.
[Pipsqueak nuzzling at Once-Ler's feet, to the Lorax]
The Lorax
Thank you, but I'm going to keep my eye on you.
The Once-ler
Good. Now, I've got a big day tomorrow, and I'm gonna get some sleep. Right after I find my bed.
[stretches; walks away, then comes back]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Embracing Creativity in Knitting and Masculinity
The Once-ler
Now that's a thneed! Nothing unmanly about knitting. No sir!
[admiring his first thneed]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Confrontation Over Trees and Rules
Once-ler
Who are you? Who are you and what are you doing here?!
Ted
I'm Ted. I'm Ted. Oh, I can't breathe. Are you the Once-ler? Oh, man.
Once-ler
Didn't you read the signs? No one is supposed to come here! Get out of here and leave me alone! And don't let the boot hit you on the way out!
Ted
The boot? Whoa, hello! Ow! Listen! People say that if someone brings you this stuff that you will tell them about trees. No, no, no!
[gets kicked by said boot from behind; gets grabbed again]
Once-ler
Trees?
Ted
Yeah, real ones. You know, that grow out of the ground? Hello?
[pause]
Once-ler
Sorry, it's just...Well, I didn't think anyone still cared about trees.
Ted
Well, that's me. The guy who still cares. I'm here. Hey, hey! What? Whoa!
[gets put back down]
The Once-ler
You wanna know about trees, about what happened to them, and why they're all gone? It's because of me.
[softly]
Ted
Wait, what?
Once-ler
IT'S BECAUSE OF ME! And my invention, the Thneed. It was an amazing product that could do the job of a thousand.
[shouts; Ted coughs]
Ted
All right. Sounds ridiculous, but I mean, that's cool.
Once-ler
You're darn right it was cool! It all started a long time ago.
[starting to explain what happened to the trees]
Ted
Can we start not so long ago, maybe?
Once-ler
Do you want a tree?
Ted
Yes, yes.
Once-ler
Then it all started a long, long time ago. I was a young man leaving home.
[scene flashes back to the Once-ler as a young man]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Potential of Small Actions
The Once-ler
Plant the seed in the middle of town where everyone can see! Change the way things are. I know it may seem small and insignificant, but it's not about what it is, it's about what it can become. That's not just a seed...any more than you're just a boy.
[To Ted; referring to the last Truffula seed]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Hat Compliments Spark Teen Interest
Teen Boy
Hey. Cool hat.
Teen Girl 1
Oh, my gosh. I totally want one.
Teen Girl 2
That thing makes me like you more.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Aspiring Success and Family Support
The Once-ler
Oh, yeah! We're in business, baby! Mom? Hey, it's me! I told you I was going to be a success! You need to bring the whole family here right now. We're going to be rich! What? I'm going to need all the help I can get. Don't worry.
[notices the Lorax looking at him]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Aunt Grizelda's Discontent with the Environment
Grizelda
What a dump.
The Once-ler
Hey, Aunt Grizelda!
Brett
Hey, Chet, check this out! Go long!
The Once-ler
No, Brett, that’s actually not a… Okay.
Brett
Go long! Go long!
Chett
I got it! I got it! Got it!
Brett
He totally ran into that tree!
The Once-ler
Ow!
Isabella
Oncie, is that you?
The Once-ler
Mom!
Isabella
There he is! There’s my big, suddenly successful son! We always knew you would make it, Oncie. Right?
Uncle Ubb
Hey! I love this guy!
The Once-ler
But you always said I wouldn’t amount to anything, remember?
Isabella
Hush your mouth. I was just trying to motivate you!
The Once-ler
I am really glad that you clarified that because it actually hurt my feelings for a really long time. Anyway, you’re all here, you all work for me, and that’s cool. So, let’s get to work.
Isabella
Brett, Chet, set up the RV! Would you please stop throwing that bear?!
The Lorax
Time out. Back up. Stop. Don’t move an inch. Nobody’s moving in here. You got to go. Goodbye.
Grizelda
So, who invited the giant furry peanut?
[referring to the Lorax]
The Lorax
You callin me a peanut, huh?! I'll go right up your nose!
Grizelda
Ha!
[advances on him]
The Once-ler
Whoa, whoa, whoa! You wouldn't hit a woman.
The Lorax
That's a woman?
[gasps]
The Once-ler
Okay. Everyone, cool it. Let’s not get off on the wrong foot here. Um, family, this is my friend…
The Lorax
Acquaintance.
The Once-ler
Yeah, acquaintance. Very good acquaintance, the Lorax. He speaks for the trees.
The Lorax
That’s right. And on behalf of the trees, get out!
The Once-ler
Will you just be nice! This is my family. And I’m going to need their help if my company is going to get bigger. Okay?
The Lorax
Bigger?
The Once-ler
Yeah, this isn’t some rinky-dink operation anymore. I got plans. Big plans! A vision of a world filled with Thneeds. It’s going to be huge!
The Lorax
Which way does a tree fall?
The Once-ler
Uh, down?
The Lorax
A tree falls the way it leans. Be careful which way you lean.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Call for Support and Unity
Aloysius O'Hare
Come on, who's with me, huh?
[last words during the "Let It Grow" song]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Searching for the Once-ler's Guidance
Ted
So, anyway, let's just say, I need a tree. Where would I go? What do I do?
Grammy Norma
Oh, then you know what? You'd need to find the Once-ler.
Ted
The what?
Mrs. Wiggins
Mom, it's not really the time for one of your, you know, magical fables, OK?
Grammy Norma
That's right, I forgot. I'm old, and can't even remember to put my teeth in!
[laughs]
Mrs. Wiggins
Stand down. That's not what I meant.
Grammy Norma
No, really, I forgot my teeth. Would you be a dear and go get them for me?
[showing her empty teeth]
Mrs. Wiggins
Sure, Mom.
[sighs]
Grammy Norma
OK, here's the deal. The Once-ler's the man who knows what happened to the trees. If you want one, you need to find him.
[puts on her retainer in secret]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Gratitude from the Once-ler to Ted
The Once-ler
Thank you, Ted.
[destroying His window In The Middle Of The Sun, as he Sees the Citizens singing "Let it Grow" And Old Once ler Whited His Eyes Without Tears; Saying That Whisper Sound; Closes His Eyes Because The Sun Is Shining]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Between The Lorax and The Once-ler
The Lorax
So how are things?
The Once-ler
What are you doing here?
The Lorax
Happy yet? You filled that hole deep down inside you, or do you still need more?
The Once-ler
Look, if you've got a problem with what I'm doing, why haven't you used your quote-unquote "powers" to stop me?
The Lorax
I told you, that's not how it works.
The Once-ler
Right, I forgot - you're a fraud! I need you to get out! Now!
The Lorax
Why? Do I make you uncomfortable? Remind you of the promises you made? The man you used to be?
The Once-ler
You know what? You can just shut your moustache! My conscience is clear. I have done nothing illegal, I have my rights, and I intend to keep on biggering and biggering, and turning more Truffula trees into Thneeds! And nothing is going to stop me!
[begins inching towards the Lorax, who backs away]
The Lorax
Well, that's it. The very last one. That may stop you.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Once-ler's Justification for Environmental Harm
The Once-ler
All the customers are buying, and the money's multiplying, and the PR people are lying, and the lawyers are denying. Who cares if a few trees are dying? This is all so gratifying! How bad, how bad can this possibly be?!
[closing How Bad Can I Be; a Thneed is thrown on the Lorax as a picture is taken. A billboard featuring the picture reads "Lorax Approved"]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Ted Wiggins Advocates for Environmental Change
Ted Wiggins
I am Ted Wiggins, and I speak for the trees. And the fact is, things aren't perfect here in Thneedville! And they're only gonna get worse unless we do something about it! Unless we change our ways, we can start by planting this!
[holds up the truffula seed]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Importance of Caring for Change
The Once-ler
Because Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better...It's not.
[To Ted]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Desire for a Living Tree
Audrey
I want more than anything in the whole world is to see a real living tree, growing in my backyard.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Moment of Affection in The Lorax
Audrey
I could just kiss you right now!
[to Ted]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation and Defiance in The Lorax
Aloysius O'Hare
YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS, BOY! BANG!
[going after Ted and Audrey and Grammy Norma, who have the Truffula seed, through a megaphone]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Preparing to Make a Thneed and Innovate
The Once-ler
Alright, here we go. About to make a Thneed, about to change the world.
[He puts on a pair of work gloves and grabs a large axe]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.