I hope you have a day filled with silliness and good cheer.
Just in case you missed them, I have some fun activities you can do to celebrate Mad Hatter Day here.
In honor of this mad occasion, I thought I’d share with you some of the wit, whimsy and wisdom of that crazy character devised by Lewis Carroll, the Mad Hatter.
I have pulled out what I think are the top 10 Mad Hatter quotes from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
(I know that the Hatter is in Carroll’s other book, Through the Looking Glass, but I’ll save that book for another time.)
You’ll find that some of these quotes include the dialog of other characters as well. That’s so that you can see the quote in context and understand it better. (If it’s possible to understand the Mad Hatter )
Now here are the Mad Hatter quotes with his insights on a variety of important topics.
*This post contains paid links. I earn a small commission from the sale of products purchased via these links. Please see my disclosure for details.
Mad Hatter Quotes
“Your hair wants cutting,” said the Hatter. He had been looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was his first speech.
#2 – On Riddles
The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all he said was “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”
#3 – On Logic
“Not the same thing a bit!” said the Hatter. “Why, you might just as well say that ‘I see what I eat’ is the same thing as ‘I eat what I see’!”
#4 – On Time
“Ah! that accounts for it,” said the Hatter. “He won’t stand beating. Now, if you only kept on good terms with him, he’d do almost anything you liked with the clock. For instance, suppose it were nine o’clock in the morning, just time to begin lessons: you’d only have to whisper a hint to Time, and round goes the clock in a twinkling! Half-past one, time for dinner!”
#5 – On “Twinkle, Twinkle”
Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you’re at!
Up above the world you fly,
Like a tea-tray in the sky.
#6 – On Tea Time
“Yes, that’s it,” said the Hatter with a sigh: “it’s always tea time, and we’ve no time to wash the things between whiles.”
#7 – On Portions
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.”
“You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter; “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”
#8 – On Cleanliness
“I want a clean cup,” interrupted the Hatter: “let’s all move one place on.”
#9 – On Humility
“I’m a poor man, your Majesty,” the Hatter began, in a trembling voice, “—and I hadn’t begun my tea—not above a week or so—and what with the bread-and-butter getting so thin—and the twinkling of the tea——”
#10 – On Standing Down
“If that’s all you know about it, you may stand down,” continued the King.
“I can’t go no lower,” said the Hatter: “I’m on the floor, as it is.”
* * * * *
I hope you enjoyed these Mad Hatter quotes. You’ll find the “twinkling of the tea” and other Alice in Wonderland quotes and illustrations on my Zazzle store.
Moira says
Oh no, I can’t believe I never knew there was a mad hattersday! I absolutely love him.His quotes are the best. Thanks for rounding them up! Made me smile.
Susan Brown says
Glad you like them!