Picture this: a young lad, lost in the swirl of his own imagination, tucked away in a makeshift den under his blanket, a flashlight in one hand and a well-thumbed Roald Dahl book in the other. In his mind, chocolate factories hum, peaches fly across the sky, and friendly giants whisk children away on enchanting adventures. That little boy is all of us, and those magical journeys were made possible by one whimsical wordsmith – Roald Dahl. Known for his enchanting storytelling, Dahl is remembered and cherished for his tales that blended reality with a dollop of the extraordinary, wrapping it all up in a package of wit, wisdom, and a dash of delightful eccentricity.
Embarking on a trip down memory lane, we've curated a list of 50 whimsical Roald Dahl quotes that capture his unique style and vivacious spirit. From profound life lessons hidden amidst silliness to pure-hearted nuggets of wisdom, these Roald Dahl quotes are here to remind you of the child-like wonder we often leave behind. So, grab a cup of tea (or maybe a fizzy lifting drink), snuggle into your armchair, and get ready to explore the world of Roald Dahl, as we delve into his witty world one quote at a time. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a curious newcomer, there’s something here to tickle your fancy and awaken your imagination.
Dahl on Imagination and Wonder
1. “A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” – Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
2. “It's impossible to make your eyes twinkle if you aren't feeling twinkly yourself.” – Danny, the Champion of the World
3. “If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” – The Twits
4. “Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you.” – The Minpins
5. “We are the dreamers of dreams.” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
6. “So, please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install, a lovely bookshelf on the wall.” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
7. “There is something about very cold weather that gives one an enormous appetite.” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
8. “Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” – The Minpins
9. “It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like, so long as somebody loves you.” – The Witches
10. “Dreams is full of mystery and magic… Do not try to understand them.” – The BFG
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Dahl on Bravery and Adventure
- “Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it.” – Matilda
- “A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly.” – The Twits
- “However small the chance might be of striking lucky, the chance was there.” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- “Having power is not nearly as important as what you choose to do with it.” – Matilda
- “The matter with human beans is that they are absolutely refusing to believe in anything unless they are seeing it right in front of their own schnozzles.” – The BFG
- “You should never, never doubt something that no one is sure of.” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- “We all have our moments of brilliance and glory.” – Boy: Tales of Childhood
- “It's a funny thing about mothers and fathers… they can make you love them.” – Matilda
- “You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” – My Uncle Oswald
- “Don't gobblefunk around with words.” – The BFG
Dahl on Love and Kindness
- “It's impossible to make your eyes twinkle if you aren't feeling twinkly yourself.” – Danny, the Champion of the World
- “If you are good, life is good.” – Matilda
- “I'm right and you're wrong, I'm big and you're small, and there's nothing you can do about it.” – Matilda
- “It’s not what a person has in his life but who we have in our lives that matters.” – Esio Trot
- “It’s the heart of a person that matters.” – The BFG
- “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Matilda
- “Being a little peculiar is a good thing.” – The BFG
- “You should never doubt yourself.” – The Twits
- “A kind heart is more valuable than anything else.” – The BFG
- “If you treat someone as though they are ugly, they become ugly.” – The Twits
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Dahl on Life and Learning
- “I began to realize how simple life could be if one had a regular routine to follow with fixed hours and a fixed salary.” – My Uncle Oswald
- “Life is more fun if you play games.” – My Uncle Oswald
- “You'll never get anywhere if you go about what-iffing like that.” – Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
- “I understand what you're saying, and your comments are valuable, but I'm gonna ignore your advice.” – Fantastic Mr. Fox
- “You can fake a mouth-smile any time you want…But a real smile, the kind that goes to your eyes, cannot be faked.” – Danny, the Champion of the World
- “I'm not, of course, telling you for one second that your teacher actually is a witch. All I am saying is that she might be one.” – The Witches
- “Grown-ups are complicated creatures, full of quirks and secrets.” – Danny, the Champion of the World
- “We have so much time and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it.” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- “Most of the really exciting things we do in our lives scare us to death. They wouldn't be exciting if they didn't.” – Danny, the Champion of the World
- “Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful.” – Matilda
Dahl on the Magic of Childhood
- “The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- “It's when I'm weary of considerations, and life is too much like a pathless wood.” – My Uncle Oswald
- “Children are not so serious as grown-ups and they love to laugh.” – My Uncle Oswald
- “There is nothing that you can’t achieve if you set your mind to it.” – Matilda
- “My dear young fellow, the Old-Green-Grasshopper said gently, there are a whole lot of things in this world of ours you haven't started wondering about yet.” – James and the Giant Peach
- “If you are going to get anywhere in life, you have to read a lot of books.” – Boy: Tales of Childhood
- “You always look so cool. You resemble a dewy rose in a frosted glass, cool as a cucumber.” – My Uncle Oswald
- “Two hours of writing fiction leaves this writer completely drained. For those two hours, he has been in a different place with totally different people.” – Boy: Tales of Childhood
- “Do not despair. Do not lose hope.” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- “All you do is to look at a page in this book, because that’s instant wisdom.” – My Uncle Oswald
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