Mary Welland was certainly lovely. She was gentle and kind. She remained my friend all the time I was in hospital. But there is a world of difference falling in love with a voice and remaining in love with a person you can see. From the moment I opened my eyes, Mary became a human instead of a dream and my passion evaporated.
Roald Dahl
Love, Friendship, Illusion, Love, Friendship, Reality
Roald Dahl’s Quotes On Topics
Realism | Reading Inquiry | Nostalgic Space | Swimming Lessons | Unique Resemblance | Punishment Choice | Beliefs | Cautionary Stance | Small Opportunities | Strange Scene | Effort | Confused Statement | Start | Poetic Advice | High Stakes | Practical Wisdom | Strategic Excitement | Movement | Playful Food Logic | Cost | More
More Roald Dahl Quotes
“Matilda had never once stopped to think about where Miss Honey might be living. She had always regarded her purely as a teacher, a person who turned up out of nowhere and taught at school and then went away again. Do any of us children, she wondered, ever stop to ask ourselves where our teachers go when school is over for the day? Do we wonder if they live alone, or if there is a mother at home or a sister or a husband?” Roald Dahl
Curiosity, Teacher’s Life, Childhood Wonder, Teaching, Curiosity, Childhood
Roald Dahl Curiosity, Teacher’s Life, Childhood Wonder, Teaching, Curiosity, Childhood“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” Roald Dahl
Playful Wisdom, Light-Hearted Humor, Joyful Thinking, Wisdom, Humor, Thinking
Roald Dahl Playful Wisdom, Light-Hearted Humor, Joyful Thinking, Wisdom, Humor, Thinking“The life of a writer is absolute hell compared to the life of a businessman.” Roald Dahl
Writer’s Struggles, Creative Work, Business Comparison, Writing, Struggles, Comparison
Roald Dahl Writer’s Struggles, Creative Work, Business Comparison, Writing, Struggles, Comparison“I think you is barking up the wrong dog.” Roald Dahl
Mixed Metaphor, Confused Statement, Humorous Comment, Humor, Confusion, Humor
Roald Dahl Mixed Metaphor, Confused Statement, Humorous Comment, Humor, Confusion, Humor“I was already beginning to realize that the only way to conduct oneself in a situation where bombs rained down and bullets whizzed past, was to accept the dangers and all the consequences as calmly as possible. Fretting and sweating about it all was not going to help.” Roald Dahl
War Reflections, Calm Acceptance, Practical Wisdom, War, Calm, Wisdom
Roald Dahl War Reflections, Calm Acceptance, Practical Wisdom, War, Calm, Wisdom“A writer of fiction lives in fear. Each new day demands new ideas and he can never be sure whether he is going to come up with them or not.” Roald Dahl
Creative Process, Writing Challenges, Fiction Fear, Writing, Creativity, Fear
Roald Dahl Creative Process, Writing Challenges, Fiction Fear, Writing, Creativity, Fear“The romance, alas, waned and withered but the quiche lived on.” Roald Dahl
Humorous Reflection, Lost Love, Food Humor, Reflection, Love, Humor
Roald Dahl Humorous Reflection, Lost Love, Food Humor, Reflection, Love, Humor“And on the pillow of the bed lay the head.” Roald Dahl
Surreal Imagery, Strange Scene, Visual Detail, Imagery, Scene, Detail
Roald Dahl Surreal Imagery, Strange Scene, Visual Detail, Imagery, Scene, Detail“We are all a great deal luckier than we realize, we usually get what we want – or near enough.” Roald Dahl
Luck, Gratitude, Realization, Life, Gratitude, Luck
Roald Dahl Luck, Gratitude, Realization, Life, Gratitude, Luck“It seemed to be suspended by some invisible thread, like a toy bird hanging from the ceiling.” Roald Dahl
Suspended Beauty, Delicate Imagery, Unique Vision, Beauty, Imagery, Vision
Roald Dahl Suspended Beauty, Delicate Imagery, Unique Vision, Beauty, Imagery, Vision“Fairy tales have always got to have something a bit scary for children – as long as you make them laugh as well.” Roald Dahl
Fairy Tale Balance, Child’s Fear, Humor In Stories, Fairy Tales, Fear, Humor
Roald Dahl Fairy Tale Balance, Child’s Fear, Humor In Stories, Fairy Tales, Fear, Humor“Now that I am alone, I don’t have to hide it; I don’t have to hide anything any longer. I can let my face go because no one can see me; because there’s twenty-one thousand feet between me and them... No, I don’t have to press my teeth together or tighten the muscles of my jaw...” Roald Dahl
Isolation Freedom, Hidden Emotions, Self Reflection, Freedom, Emotions, Reflection
Roald Dahl Isolation Freedom, Hidden Emotions, Self Reflection, Freedom, Emotions, Reflection“Go throw your TV set away, And in its place you can install A lovely bookshelf on the wall.” Roald Dahl
Encouraging Reading, Anti-TV Message, Educational Value, Reading, Education, Value
Roald Dahl Encouraging Reading, Anti-TV Message, Educational Value, Reading, Education, Value“I don’t care if a reader hates one of my stories, just as long as he finishes the book.” Roald Dahl
Reader Engagement, Writer’s Goal, Story Completion, Writing, Engagement, Reading
Roald Dahl Reader Engagement, Writer’s Goal, Story Completion, Writing, Engagement, Reading“Obscurity is never a virtue.” Roald Dahl
Virtue Debate, Visibility Importance, Value Discussion, Virtue, Visibility, Value
Roald Dahl Virtue Debate, Visibility Importance, Value Discussion, Virtue, Visibility, Value“In any event, parents never underestimated the abilities of their own children. Quite the reverse. Sometimes it was well nigh impossible for a teacher to convince the proud father or mother that their beloved offspring was a complete nitwit.” Roald Dahl
Parental Bias, Childhood Expectations, Education Humor, Parenting, Childhood, Education
Roald Dahl Parental Bias, Childhood Expectations, Education Humor, Parenting, Childhood, Education“I go down to my little hut, where it's tight and dark and warm, and within minutes I can go back to being six or seven or eight again.” Roald Dahl
Creative Retreat, Nostalgic Space, Warm Memories, Creativity, Nostalgia, Warmth
Roald Dahl Creative Retreat, Nostalgic Space, Warm Memories, Creativity, Nostalgia, Warmth