--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm making a list I'm making a list of…" description: "\"I'm making a list I'm making a list of things I must say For politeness, And goodness and kindness and gentleness Sweetness and rightness: Hello Pardon..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/shel-silverstein-1914_bless_i-m-making-a-list-i-m-making-a-list-of-t_594956.jpg" --- # I'm making a list I'm making a list of things I must say… ![“I'm making a list I'm making a list of things I must say For politeness, And goodness and kindness and gentleness Sweetness and rightness: Hello Pardon me How are you? Excuse me Bless you May I? Thank you Goodbye If you know some that I've forgot, Please stick them in you eye!” quote by Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/shel-silverstein-1914_bless_i-m-making-a-list-i-m-making-a-list-of-t_594956.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/shel-silverstein-1914_bless_i-m-making-a-list-i-m-making-a-list-of-t_594956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/shel-silverstein-1914_bless_i-m-making-a-list-i-m-making-a-list-of-t_594956.jpg) > “I'm making a list I'm making a list of things I must say For politeness, And goodness and kindness and gentleness Sweetness and rightness: Hello Pardon me How are you? Excuse me Bless you May I? Thank you Goodbye If you know some that I've forgot, Please stick them in you eye!” [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A whimsical list of polite phrases reminds us of kindness in everyday interactions. **In simple terms:** Politeness matters. Key Takeaway Practice small courtesies daily. Themes courtesy communication kindness Mood lighthearted playful Type social educational When to use this quote - greeting strangers - customer service - teaching children - writing emails Key Concepts social etiquette language humor Questions to Reflect On - Which phrase feels most natural to you? - How can you make politeness genuine? A Different Perspective Politeness can feel forced if insincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gentleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleness/) [Goodbye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodbye/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Goodness and kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness-and-kindness/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Pardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardon/) [Politeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politeness/) [Sweetness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweetness/) ## Related quotes > [Sorry, am I being rude?" she asks. "I'm used to saying whatever is on my mind. Mom used to say that politeness is deception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/sorry-am-i-being-rude-she-asks-i-m-used-to-saying-whatever-is-on-my/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I would not advise people to buy a car or house without making a list. You will probably improve your intuitions by making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/i-would-not-advise-people-to-buy-a-car-or-house-without-making-a-list/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [“As I walked, I started making a list of everyone in the mage world whom I’d opposed, fought with, or otherwise irritated. After I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-jacka/as-i-walked-i-started-making-a-list-of-everyone-in-the-mage-world/) [Benedict Jacka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-jacka/) > [While you're busy sitting down making a list of goals, it wouldn't be a bad idea to actually write some about your home. Start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-baeumler/while-you-re-busy-sitting-down-making-a-list-of-goals-it-wouldn-t-be/) [Bryan Baeumler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-baeumler/) > [We're making a list." "And checking it twice." Edward shook his head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/we-re-making-a-list-and-checking-it-twice-edward-shook-his-head/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I value the momentum of making the list and the drive to tick. Sometimes I add stuff I've already accomplished so I can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-genn/i-value-the-momentum-of-making-the-list-and-the-drive-to-tick/) [Sara Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-genn/) > [Even if you're just making a list of all the things you have to do, putting your pen to paper gets it out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/even-if-you-re-just-making-a-list-of-all-the-things-you-have-to-do/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [“Oh, he’s making a list … and checking it twice … he’s gonna find out … who’s naughty and nice … Then,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/oh-he-s-making-a-list-and-checking-it-twice-he-s-gonna-find-out-who-s/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“I think about making a list of all the things I need to tell people before it's too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/i-think-about-making-a-list-of-all-the-things-i-need-to-tell-people/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“In my Confessions, I told how I started by making a list of the clients I most wanted – General Foods, Lever Brothers, Bristol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/in-my-confessions-i-told-how-i-started-by-making-a-list-of-the/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [Its almost Christmas and Santa's making his list, if you see him before I do, tell him all I want this Christmas is you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-jay-kay/its-almost-christmas-and-santa-s-making-his-list-if-you-see-him/) [Ray Jay Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-jay-kay/) > [“I’m making a list. And checking it twice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/i-m-making-a-list-and-checking-it-twice/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [Love and kindness are never wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/love-and-kindness-are-never-wasted/) [Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/) > [The art of being kind is all the world needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/the-art-of-being-kind-is-all-the-world-needs/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Do all the good you can, by all the means you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) ## More by Shel Silverstein > [“I cannot go to school today" Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-cannot-go-to-school-today-said-little-peggy-ann-mckay-i-have-the/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Oh, I'm being eaten By a boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor, And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/oh-i-m-being-eaten-by-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Many leaves one tree”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/many-leaves-one-tree/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Magic Sandra’s seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/magic-sandra-s-seen-a-leprechaun-eddie-touched-a-troll-laurie-danced/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [He has the obligation to society that any human being has. I don't think a satirist has any greater obligation to society than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/he-has-the-obligation-to-society-that-any-human-being-has-i-don-t/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would not take the garbage out! She'd scour the pots and scrape the pans, Candy the yams and spice the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/sarah-cynthia-sylvia-stout-would-not-take-the-garbage-out-she-d-scour/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [To me, freedom entitles you to do something, not to not do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/to-me-freedom-entitles-you-to-do-something-not-to-not-do-something/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ol' man Simon, planted a diamond. Grew hisself a garden the likes of none. Sprouts all growin' comin' up glowin' Fruit of jewels all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ol-man-simon-planted-a-diamond-grew-hisself-a-garden-the-likes-of/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ma and God God gave us fingers--Ma says, "Use your fork." God gave us voices--Ma says, "Don't scream." Ma says eat broccoli, cereal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ma-and-god-god-gave-us-fingers-ma-says-use-your-fork-god-gave-us/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Ourchestra: So you haven't got a drum, just beat your belly. So I haven't got a horn-I'll play my nose. So we haven't any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ourchestra-so-you-haven-t-got-a-drum-just-beat-your-belly-so-i-haven/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ickle me, pickle me, tickle me too never returned to the world they knew and nobody knows what happened to dear ickle me, pickle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ickle-me-pickle-me-tickle-me-too-never-returned-to-the-world-they/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [I would hope that people, no matter what age, would find something to identify with in my books, pick one up and experience a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-would-hope-that-people-no-matter-what-age-would-find-something-to/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [What you've got to say, you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/what-you-ve-got-to-say-you-say/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [G'bye, I'm going out to play!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/g-bye-i-m-going-out-to-play/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [A spider lives inside my head Who weaves a strange and wondrous web Of silken threads and silver strings To catch all sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/a-spider-lives-inside-my-head-who-weaves-a-strange-and-wondrous-web/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) [Explore all 198 Shel Silverstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) ## More Bless quotes > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Let death bless me with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-death-bless-me-with-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Choosing a job or business is the same thing. I'm not the best one to advise someone how to make billions of dollars; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/choosing-a-job-or-business-is-the-same-thing-i-m-not-the-best-one-to/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [The word of the Lord is this: "Just bless those that persecute you and ask for Justice, for the battle does not belong to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-loren/the-word-of-the-lord-is-this-just-bless-those-that-persecute-you-and/) Julia Loren > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [May god bless u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette/may-god-bless-u/) [Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette/) > [SCIENCE! thou fair effusive ray From the great source of mental Day, Free, generous, and refin'd! Descend with all thy treasures fraught, Illumine each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-akenside/science-thou-fair-effusive-ray-from-the-great-source-of-mental-day/) [Mark Akenside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-akenside/) > [When we lack integrity, we use power to control. When we lead with integrity, we use power to bless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/when-we-lack-integrity-we-use-power-to-control-when-we-lead-with/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [“Be quick to bless but lazy to curse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bamikole/be-quick-to-bless-but-lazy-to-curse/) [Paul Bamikole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bamikole/) > [The pious farmer, who ne'er misses pray'rs, With patience suffers unexpected rain; He blesses Heav'n for what its bounty spares, And sees, resign'd, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/the-pious-farmer-who-ne-er-misses-pray-rs-with-patience-suffers/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [May God bless you and your family today and always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-god-bless-you-and-your-family-today-and-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I bless the gods for not letting my education in rhetoric, poetry, and other literary studies come easily to me, and thereby sparing me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/i-bless-the-gods-for-not-letting-my-education-in-rhetoric-poetry-and/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“ I'm here to bless not to impress”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/i-m-here-to-bless-not-to-impress/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [How many people you bless is how you measure success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/how-many-people-you-bless-is-how-you-measure-success/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) Browse all 1,218 Bless quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm making a list I'm making a list of things I must say For politeness, And goodness and kindness and gentleness Sweetness and rightness: Hello Pardon me How are you? 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