Born Alan Alexander Milne January 18th, 1882 in Kilburn, London, Milne is best known and remembered for his books about Winnie-the-Pooh. He was wrote many novels, non-fiction books, plays and poetry collections for adults.
By the early 1920s Milne had published 18 plays and 3 novels, including The Red House Mystery (1922). Milne and his wife Dorothy had a son named Christopher Robin in 1920. In February 1924 Winnie the Pooh made his debut in a poem called “Teddy Bear,” published in Punch magazine. The poem was included in a collection of children’s poems ‘When We Were Very Young’ which were illustrated by E.H. Shepard, who also worked at Punch, published later in 1924. In 1925 a collection of short stories, Gallery of Children, was published, including some stories that became part of the Winnie-the-Pooh books.
The Pooh books were Inspired by Milne’s son Christopher Robin and his stuffed animals. The name Winnie came from black bear named Winnipeg, who was a military mascot during World War I and later a resident of the London Zoo. The name Pooh may have been added to ‘Winnie’ because the original bear smelled bad.
The real Christopher Robin’s toys that inspired the stories are on display at the New York Public Library. Milne retired to his country home Cotchford Farm, after a store and brain surgery left him an invalid in 1952. 30 Cotchford was later bought by Rolling Stone guitarist Brian Jones who died there in a swimming pool in 1969.
Winnie the Pooh is the second most valuable character after Mickey Mouse
A.A. Milne Quotes
Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.
You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.
Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.
People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.
I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart for so long. If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can be together all the time.
I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen.
Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.
Promise me you’ll never forget me because if I thought you would, I’d never leave.
One of the advantages of being disorganized is that one is always having surprising discoveries.
If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.
I’m not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.
I used to believe in forever, but forever’s too good to be true.
Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem.
The things that make me different are the things that make me.
Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.
When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.
Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.
If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.
Think, think, think.
A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise.
Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon.
Think it over, think it under.
It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it.
What I say is that, if a man really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow.
I did know once, only I’ve sort of forgotten.
Pay attention to where you are going because without meaning you might get nowhere.
To the uneducated an A is just three sticks.
I was walking along looking for somebody, and then suddenly I wasn’t anymore.
You never can tell with bees.
We’ll be friends until forever, just you wait and see.
It is hard to be brave, when you’re only a Very Small Animal.
I do remember, and then when I try to remember, I forget.
Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.
Organization is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it’s not all mixed up.
Promise you won’t forget me, ever. Not even when I’m a hundred.
A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference.
Any day spent with you is my favorite day. So today is my new favorite day.
How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
When you do the things that you can do, you will find a way.
You are braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, And smarter than you think.
Good judgment comes from experience, and experience – well, that comes from poor judgment.
Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in our hearts.
The nicest thing about the rain is that it always stops. Eventually.
You’re braver than you believe and stronger and smarter than you think.
The things that make me different are the things that make me ME.
The most important thing is, even if we’re apart, I’ll always be with you.
Whenever there comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.
Always wear a smile, because your smile is a reason for many others to smile!