14 Roald Dahl Quotes for Writers and About Writing

Roald Dahl was a fighter pilot for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, who then went on to write screenplays, short stories, and children's novels. A few of his popular works include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and The Witches. Personally, my favorite novel by Dahl is Fantastic Mr Fox.

(Click here to read when truth is stranger than children's fiction that includes a story about Dahl.)

In addition to his service as a fighter pilot and spinner of tales for children, Dahl wrote a few screenplays, including the James Bond classic You Only Live Twice and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Here are 14 Roald Dahl quotes for writers and about writing.

"A little magic can take you a long way."

"If you are going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books."

"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."

*****

Push yourself beyond your comfort zone and take your writing to new heights with this Advanced Novel Writing workshop meant for novelists who are looking for book editing and specific feedback on their work. When you take this online workshop, you won't have weekly reading assignments or lectures. Instead, you'll get to focus solely on completing your novel.

While it is possible to write a novel in a month, in this workshop you'll spend 15 weeks writing yours—all the while gaining valuable feedback and getting the encouragement you need in order to finish writing your novel. You'll also learn specific tips for outlining and how not to write a novel. One thing is for certain though—by the end of this online workshop, you will have the tools and know-how to write a great novel.

Click to continue.

*****

"Don't gobblefunk around with words."

"If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face."

"It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like as long as somebody loves you."

"Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world."

"Having power is not nearly as important as what you choose to do with it."

"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest of men."

"A person is a fool to become a writer. His only compensation is absolute freedom. He has no master except his own soul, and that, I am sure, is why he does it."

"The witching hour, somebody had once whispered to her, was a special moment in the middle of the night when every child and every grown-up was in a deep deep sleep, and all the dark things came out from hiding and had the world to themselves."

"Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

"Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog."

"I understand what you're saying, and your comments are valuable, but I'm gonna ignore your advice."