“The Giving Tree” is a renowned American children’s book by Shel Silverstein, first published in 1964.
It has gained both acclaim and scrutiny, with some viewing the tree’s relationship with the boy as a representation of selfless love, while others see it as abusive.
Despite the book’s popularity, Silverstein initially struggled to find a publisher, with its content deemed “too sad” and “too simple”.
The original illustrations resembled Silverstein’s Playboy cartoons but were later refined to be simpler and gentler.
The narrative portrays an evolving relationship between a boy and an apple tree.
As the boy grows, his interactions with the tree shift from innocent play to taking its resources for personal gains.
In the end, both feel the effects of their actions, yet the tree remains a source of solace for the elderly boy.
Here are some of the famous quotes from The Giving Tree book.
Quotes from The Giving Tree
Once there was a tree….
and she loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come
and he would gather her leaves
and make them into crowns
and play king of the forest.
He would climb up her trunk
and swing from her branches
and eat apples.
And they would play hide-and-go-seek.
And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree….
very much.
And the tree was happy.
But time went by.
And the boy grew older.
And the tree was often alone.
Then one day the boy came to the tree
and the tree said, “Come, Boy, come and
climb up my trunk and swing from my
branches and eat apples and play in my
shade and be happy.”
“I am too big to climb and play” said
the boy.
“I want to buy things and have fun.
I want some money?”
“I’m sorry,” said the tree, “but I
have no money.
I have only leaves and apples.
Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in
the city. Then you will have money and
you will be happy.”
And so the boy climbed up the
tree and gathered her apples
and carried them away.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time….
and the tree was sad.
And then one day the boy came back
and the tree shook with joy
and she said, “Come, Boy, climb up my trunk
and swing from my branches and be happy.”
“I am too busy to climb trees,” said the boy.
“I want a house to keep me warm,” he said.
“I want a wife and I want children,
and so I need a house.
Can you give me a house ?”
” I have no house,” said the tree.
“The forest is my house,
but you may cut off
my branches and build a
house. Then you will be happy.”
And so the boy cut off her branches
and carried them away
to build his house.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back,
the tree was so happy
she could hardly speak.
“Come, Boy,” she whispered,
“come and play.”
“I am too old and sad to play,”
said the boy.
“I want a boat that will
take me far away from here.
Can you give me a boat?”
“Cut down my trunk
and make a boat,” said the tree.
“Then you can sail away…
and be happy.”
And so the boy cut down her trunk
and made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy
… but not really.
And after a long time
the boy came back again.
“I am sorry, Boy,”
said the tree,” but I have nothing
left to give you –
My apples are gone.”
“My teeth are too weak
for apples,” said the boy.
“My branches are gone,”
said the tree. ” You
cannot swing on them – “
“I am too old to swing
on branches,” said the boy.
“My trunk is gone, ” said the tree.
“You cannot climb – “
“I am too tired to climb” said the boy.
“I am sorry,” sighed the tree.
“I wish that I could give you something….
but I have nothing left.
I am just an old stump.
I am sorry….”
“I don’t need very much now,” said the boy.
“just a quiet place to sit and rest.
I am very tired.”
“Well,” said the tree, straightening
herself up as much as she could,
“well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting
Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.”
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.
Random Quotes from The Giving Tree
A tree teaches a boy how to be kind and cheerful in Shel Silverstein's novel "The Giving Tree." The youngster receives all he requires from the tree, including a seat, food, and shade. The youngster continues to take from the tree even after he has grown up and no longer needs anything from it. The tree is content with the minor things, like giving the youngster shade and cover. The tree is a metaphor for how we should continue to be content with what we have while giving as she does.
Once there was a tree… and she loved a little boy. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
I want a boat that will take me far away from here. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
I have no house, the forest is my house, but you may cut off my branches and build a house. Then you will be happy. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
I am sorry, I wish that I could give you something . . . but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I am sorry. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
And the boy loved the tree… very much. And the tree was happy. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
I am sorry, Boy, but I have nothing left to give you. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
And so the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build his house. And the tree was happy. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
And they would play hide-and-go-seek. And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
‘I am too big to climb and play,’ said the boy. ‘I want to buy things and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money? ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
I am too old and sad to play. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
But the boy stayed away for a long time. And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and play king of the forest. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be happy. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
Cut down my trunk and make a boat, then you can sail away… and be happy. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
Come, Boy, come and play. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
But time went by. And the boy grew older. And the tree was often alone. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
I don’t need very much now. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
And the tree was happy. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
And so the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away. And the tree was happy. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
And they would play hide and go seek and when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
Well an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
And every day the boy would come, and he would gather her leaves, make them into crowns and play king of the forest. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
I don’t need very much now, just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
I have only leaves and apples. Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in the city. Then you will have money and you will be happy. ~ Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).
So these were the 27 top The Giving Tree quotes by Shel Silverstein.
If you like these quotes and sayings, then you can also read my other articles on A Walk in the Woods book quotes and Politics by Aristotle book quotes.
