Roald Dahl

Children's author

Modern influential 49 sayings

Sayings by Roald Dahl

I've always been fascinated by people who are a little bit strange.

1983 — Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

I think it's important to be a bit of a maverick.

1983 — Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

I'm not anti-American, but I'm certainly not pro-American.

1990 — Interview with 'The Independent'
Controversial Unverifiable

There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity... I mean, there's always a reason why anti-anything crops up anywhere; even a stinker like Hitler didn't just pick on them for no reason.

1983 — Interview with 'New Statesman'
Controversial Unverifiable

I am certainly pro-Israel, and I have become very much pro-Israel after what I've seen in the Lebanon.

1990 — Interview with 'The Independent'
Controversial Unverifiable

Even if they are not [bloodthirsty], even if they are the most peace-loving people on earth, they still have to fight back when they are attacked.

1983 — On Israel, in a letter to 'The Times'
Controversial Unverifiable

The trouble with the Americans is that they expect everyone to be nice and kind and gentle and loving, and when they're not, they get terribly upset.

1990 — Interview with 'The Independent'
Controversial Unverifiable

I have a passion for teaching kids to become readers, to become comfortable with a book, not daunted. Books shouldn't be daunting, they should be funny, exciting and wonderful.

1988 — Interview with 'The Guardian'
Controversial Unverifiable

The life of a writer is absolute hell compared with the life of a businessman.

1974 — Interview with 'The Paris Review'
Controversial Unverifiable