Roald Dahl Quotes

British writer and poet (1916–1990)

Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British novelist, short-story writer, poet, and screenwriter, known as a writer for both children and adults. A wartime fighter pilot of Norwegian descent, his writing career began in 1942 when a story about his experiences in World War II was first published. In 2008, The Times of London placed Dahl 16th on its list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945". His short stories are known for their unexpected endings, while his children's books (which include James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) are often examples of unsentimental, dark humour.

From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Alternative Names: Wing Commander Roald Dahl

From Wikidata (CC0)

"I shall never have a bath again," I said.
"Just dont have one too often," my grandmother said. "Once a month is quite enough for a sensible child." It was at times like these that I loved my grandmother more than ever.

If the Good Lord intended for us to walk, he wouldn't have invented rollar skates.

Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it’s unbelievable.

It's impossible to make your eyes twinkle if you aren't feeling twinkly yourself

When writing about oneself, one must strive to be truthful. Truth is more important than modesty.

All the reading she had done had given her a view of life that they had never seen. If only they would read a little Dickens or Kipling they would soon discover there was more to life than cheating people and watching television.

I have found it impossible to talk to anyone about my problems. I couldn't face the embarrassment, and anyway I lack the courage. Any courage I had was knocked out of me when I was young. But now, all of sudden I have a sort of desperate wish to tell everything to somebody.

Bunkum and tummyrot! You'll never get anywhere if you go about what-iffing like that. Would Columbus have discovered America if he'd said 'What if I sink on the way over? What if I meet pirates? What if I never come back?' He wouldn't even have started.

Badger: The cuss you are.
Mr. Fox: The cuss am I? Are you cussing with me?

I'm afraid men are not always quite as clever as they think they are. You will learn that when you get a bit older, my girl.

An autobiography is a book a person writes about his own life and it is usually full of all sorts of boring details.

"You ignorant little slug!" the Trunchbull bellowed. "You witless weed! You empty-headed hamster! You stupid glob of glue!"

Poor Earthworm,' the Ladybird said, whispering in James's ear. 'He loves to make everything into a disaster. He hates to be happy. He is only happy when he is gloomy.

There is little point in teaching anything backwards. The whole object of life, Headmistress, is to go forwards.

There aren’t many funny bits in Mr Tolkien either,’ Matilda said.
‘Do you think that all children’s books ought to have funny bits in them?’ Miss Honey asked.
‘I do,’ Matilda said. ‘Children are not so serious as grown-ups and love to laugh.

Roald Dahl Quotes

Limited Time Offer

Go Premium