American cartoonist Charles Schulz died on February 12, 2000, at age 77. The next day, the final Peanuts comic strip ran in newspapers, ending the 50-year run of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang. That timing might seem logical, but Peanuts strips, particularly Sunday ones, were created weeks in advance, making the coincidental timing of his death and the final strip's publication something of a small miracle. Schulz had announced his retirement two months earlier due to health issues, and he’d created his last strip shortly after that announcement. While he knew he was dying, he couldn’t have known two months in advance the exact day he would pass, thus inadvertently penning his own obituary.
The timing was auspicious and perhaps even profound, fitting for a man with such a significant impact on American culture. Over his 50-year career, Schulz delivered nearly 18,000 Peanuts comics. Some were sweet, some were funny, and some were incredibly deep. A prime example of the latter came from February 3, 1966, containing what many consider Schulz’s best-ever quote.
Charlie Brown and the Spelling Bee
This particular comic was part of an ongoing storyline about Charlie Brown competing in a spelling bee, which ran from February 2 to February 20, 1966. The story spanned 16 strips, excluding Sundays, as the extended Sunday strips required more lead time and were often read independently.
In the story, a stressed-out Charlie Brown volunteers for the spelling bee. Characteristically, he falters, misspelling "maze" as "m-a-y-s." After being sent to the principal’s office and later returning to class, he apologizes to his teacher. The highlight of the storyline occurred in the second strip, after Charlie Brown volunteered. In response to an incredulous Lucy questioning his decision, Charlie Brown shouts, “Well, what’s wrong? What’s wrong with trying?! I can try, can’t I?” He then delivers a truly insightful line: “What’s the good of living if you don’t try a few things?”
This simple statement is as profound as anything uttered by presidents or philosophers. It serves as a powerful reminder that the point of living is to experience and attempt new things. The profundity, however, was likely lost on the characters themselves, as they were just children. Yet, evidence suggests even Schulz himself may have overlooked the brilliance of his own words in this instance.
Charlie Brown on the Big Screen
This 20-part story about Charlie Brown's spelling bee later formed the basis for the first Peanuts feature film, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, released on December 4, 1969. The movie, written by Schulz himself, followed the same narrative but added extensive new material. However, some elements from the comic strips were omitted, including that particularly wonderful line about trying.
Whether there was simply no place for it or Schulz didn't deem it significant enough, the line remains a powerful testament to his understanding of the human condition. His own life, filled with constant creation and effort, mirrored the very advice he imparted through his most beloved characters.