“Most people were heartless about turtles because a turtle’s heart will beat for hours after it has been cut up and butchered. But the old man thought, I have such a heart too.”

“Turtles don't feel, stupid," said Jem.

"Were you ever a turtle, huh?”

“And the turtles, of course… all the turtles are free, as turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be.”

“I'm running this, and I can jump the hurdles. I feel like I'm racing a bunch of little turtles. I keep a bandanna like the Ninja Turtles. I'm like a turtle when I sip the purple.”

“And today the great Yertle, that Marvelous he,
Is King of the Mud. That is all he can see.
And the turtles, of course… all the turtles are free
As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be.”

“Looking for peace is like looking for a turtle with a mustache: You won't be able to find it. But when your heart is ready, peace will come looking for you.”

“Rolling up ho's like turtles in a half a shell open up my trunk, and let'z see what I have to sell”

“The turtle moves.”

“The turtle trapped 'twixt plated decks
Doth practically conceal its sex
I think it clever of the turtle
In such a fix to be so fertile.”

“If racehorses were trained as much as most bodybuilders train, you could safely bet your money on an out-of-condition turtle.”