Ever since 1968 when Fred Rogers’ television show first ran on the Eastern Educational Television Network, his character of “Mister Rogers” has reminded millions of children just how special they are.
Whether through a simple song or loving thought, Rogers had a way of connecting to anyone while on screen.
Rogers’ television show, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” successfully spoke to children about important topics, such as going to school, making friends, dealing with siblings -- and even difficult topics such as divorce, disabilities and bullying.
Rogers’ statements still resonate today as his quote regarding scary images in the news circulated online after the bombings that took place at the Boston marathon. His popular statement said:
”When I was a child and would see scary things on the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
As a former minister, Rogers always made an effort to stand up for what he knew to be right. Early on in his career, the young Rogers found himself in court in 1969 in order to express the importance of educational television.
At the time, funding for the public broadcasting system was on the brink of being cut in half and Rogers appeared before the United States Senate in order to prove the importance of such programming.
”I’m very much concerned, as I know you are, about what’s being delivered to our children in this country,” Rogers said.
He later stated when explaining his own personal show: “This is what I give, I give an expression of care everyday to each child. To help him realize that he is unique by saying, ‘You’ve made this day a special day by just your being you.”
Within just a few minutes of his message, Rogers caused the judge to express: “I’m supposed to be a pretty tough guy, and this is the first time I’ve had goosebumps in the last two days.”
”Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” would then go on to win four Emmy’s, with Rogers’ himself receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.
After Rogers’ passing in 2003, Marc Brown, the creator of the animated PBS series, gave a tribute to Rogers and the legacy he left as reported by the Post-gazette.
”Gosh, when you die, the one thing you want is to feel that your life is worth something,” Brown said. Think of the millions of families and children he’s touched and made their lives better and easier in some way.”
The following are 20 remarks from Rogers that have taught life lessons to both children and adults.
”It’s you I like. ...”
”It’s you I like. It’s not the things you wear. It’s not the way you do your hair. But it’s you I like, the way you are right now, the way down deep inside you. Not the things that hide you. ...It’s you I like.”
This quote comes from a song Rogers sang in many episodes. Rogers wrote his own music and enjoyed playing the piano.
”I got into television because ...”
”I got into television because I saw people throwing pies in each other’s faces, and that’s such demeaning behavior. And if there’s anything that bothers me, it’s one person demeaning another.”
Roger’s had a strong opinion about the type of programming that was shown on television, especially for children. During his appearance before the United States Senate, Rogers said that a program that shows two men working out their anger together is much more dramatic than a gun firing.
The first time Rogers’ saw a television set during his senior year of college, he knew it could be used for a greater good.
”Those of us in broadcasting have a special calling to give whatever we feel is the most nourishing that we can for our audience,” Rogers said. “We are servants of those who watch and listen.”
”Three ways to ultimate success ...”
”There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.”
This quote was posted on the PBS Parents Twitter account. Many quotes from Mister Rogers are tweeted out each month from this account.
”It’s our insides that ...”
”It’s our insides that make us who we are, that allow us to dream and wonder and feel for others. That’s what’s essential.”
This quote comes from a commencement address Rogers gave in 2001 at Middlebury College.
”In times of stress ...”
“In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.”
This quote comes from Rogers’ book “The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember.”
”The world needs a sense of worth ...”
”The world needs a sense of worth and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile.”
This quote also comes from Rogers’ book “The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember.”
”I feel so strongly ...”
”I feel so strongly that deep and simple is far more essential than shallow and complex.”
Rogers initially shared this statement with Benjamin Wagner, an MTV producer, and the director of the documentary “Mister Rogers & Me.” The documentary is based on many interviews Wagner conducted with people who had actually been Rogers’ neighbor.
”I like you ...”
”I like you, just the way you are.”
Rogers ended every episode by reassuring children that they were important by saying, “You’ve made this day a special day, by just your being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you, and I like you, just the way you are.”
In his final episode, Rogers said these words for the last time.
”Love isn’t a state ...”
”Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like ‘struggle.’ To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.”
This quote comes from Rogers’ book “The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember.”
Rogers often talked about what it means to love someone, showing examples of service and spending time with family members.
In one episode, Rogers said, “People can love us, even when we’re not perfect.”
”Because deep down we know ...”
”Because deep down we know that what matters in this life is much more than winning for ourselves. What really matters is helping others win, too, even if it means slowing down and changing our course now and then.”
This quote comes from a commencement address Rogers gave in 2001 at Middlebury College.
”The people you love the best ...”
”The people you love the best are the people you learn the most from.”
When Rogers accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award, he used his time to thank those he loved. Rather than focusing the time on himself, he invited the audience to do the same with him.
”All of us have special ones who have loved us into being,” Rogers said during his acceptance speech.”Would you just take, along with me, 10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are.”
”I believe that ...”
”I believe that appreciation is a holy thing, that when we look for what’s best in the person we happen to be with at the moment, we’re doing what God does. So, in loving and appreciating our neighbor, we’re participating in something truly sacred.”
This quote comes from Rogers’ book “The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember.”
”The thing I remember ...”
”The thing I remember best about the truly successful people I’ve met is their obvious delight in what they do. Such honest, enthusiastic living of our lives — no matter what our talents may be — can deeply affect others.”
This quote comes from a commencement address Rogers gave in 2001 at Middlebury College.
”The more you learn ...”
”The more you learn, the better feeling you have about yourself and the world we live in.”
In many of Rogers’ episodes, he taught something new. Learning and expanding your knowledge was something that Rogers promoted. Because of his example, an organization has been created in his name, called the
Fred Rogers Center. This is run by the Saint Vincent College and promotes early learning children’s media.
”One of my wise teachers ...”
”One of my wise teachers, Dr. Orr, told me, ‘There is only one thing evil cannot stand, and that is forgiveness.’”
This quote was listed on the PBS website under “Thoughts for all ages.”
”I hope you’re proud of yourself ...”
”I hope you’re proud of yourself for the times you’ve said ‘yes,’ when all it meant was extra work for you and was seemingly helpful only to someone else.”
This quote came from Rogers’ book “The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember.”
”There’s a part of all ...”
”There’s a part of all of us that longs to know that even what’s weakest about us can ultimately count for something good.”
This quote was given at the 2001 Commencement address given at Marquette University.
”Solitude is different ...”
”Solitude is different from loneliness, and it doesn’t have to be a lonely kind of thing.”
This quote comes from Rogers’ book, “The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember.”
Rogers often talked about how to deal with feeling lonely and what solutions might help.
”It’s my belief ...”
”It’s my belief that the capacity to accept help is inseparable from the capacity to give help when our turn comes to be strong.”
This quote was listed on the PBS website under “Thoughts for all ages.”
”... Let’s make”
”... Let’s make the most of this beautiful day ...”
This quote comes from the familiar “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood” theme song titled ”Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
Although the tune is meant for younger children, for those who grew up with Mister Rogers, it’s a hard one to forget. In fact, Rogers was pleasantly surprised when the graduating class of 1992 at Boston University began to sing the song during Rogers’ commencement address.