I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. — Dr. Seuss

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.

Author: Dr. Seuss

Insight: There's something our brains do when they encounter something that doesn't fit the normal pattern—they wake up. A nonsensical phrase, a ridiculous scenario, an absurd what-if—these things demand our attention in a way that logical sense never quite does. We can zone out through perfectly reasonable explanations, but a contradiction or an impossible image snaps us to attention. That's not wasting time; that's exactly how creative thinking gets started. The catch is that most of us treat fantasy and nonsense like guilty pleasures, something to squeeze in between "real" work. But Seuss was onto something deeper: fantasy isn't decoration for living. It's the muscle that lets us imagine solutions that don't exist yet, relationships that could be different, versions of ourselves we haven't tried. Without it, we're stuck rearranging existing pieces. With it, we're building new ones. The practical irony is that the most "serious" breakthroughs—in science, business, relationships—usually start with someone willing to think nonsensically for a while. To ask the ridiculous question. To play with an idea that doesn't make immediate sense. The brain cells that wake up during those moments aren't taking a break from real thinking. They're doing exactly what real thinking requires.

Source: I Like Nonsense. The New York Times, 1957

When nonsense builds new thinking

There's something our brains do when they encounter something that doesn't fit the normal pattern—they wake up. A nonsensical phrase, a ridiculous scenario, an absurd what-if—these things demand our attention in a way that logical sense never quite does. We can zone out through perfectly reasonable explanations, but a contradiction or an impossible image snaps us to attention. That's not wasting time; that's exactly how creative thinking gets started.

The catch is that most of us treat fantasy and nonsense like guilty pleasures, something to squeeze in between "real" work. But Seuss was onto something deeper: fantasy isn't decoration for living. It's the muscle that lets us imagine solutions that don't exist yet, relationships that could be different, versions of ourselves we haven't tried. Without it, we're stuck rearranging existing pieces. With it, we're building new ones.

The practical irony is that the most "serious" breakthroughs—in science, business, relationships—usually start with someone willing to think nonsensically for a while. To ask the ridiculous question. To play with an idea that doesn't make immediate sense. The brain cells that wake up during those moments aren't taking a break from real thinking. They're doing exactly what real thinking requires.

Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, was an American author and illustrator best known for his beloved children's books. His imaginative and whimsical stories, such as "The Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham," have captivated generations of young readers with their playful rhymes and colorful illustrations. Dr. Seuss is celebrated for his contributions to children's literature and his ability to instill important life lessons in a fun and engaging way.

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. — Dr. Seuss

When nonsense builds new thinking

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