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When I was younger I was a complete bookworm with my head permanently stuck in a book. Nothing would make me happier than indulging in a brand new story.

One of the authors I loved most was Roald Dahl. From mean relatives and kindly giants, to magic potions and rivers of chocolate, I was swept away on adventures with my favourite characters.

It’s only now that I’m older and reading the books with my own children, I realise quite how many wise, poignant and thought-provoking lines there are throughout his books.

Here are a few of my favourite Roald Dahl quotes:

This famous quote from the classic story of The Twits, shows children (and adults!) the importance of being a good person. In a superficial world obsessed with beauty, it’s a reminder that aesthetics don’t matter if you don’t have the personality to match.

This quote from The Minpins, is the last sentence in the last children’s book ever written by Roald Dahl. And it’s one of my favourites! My eldest son is now at the age where he’s questioning everything. I’m trying to teach him that you don’t need to see something, to believe in it. I want him to know the most exciting things in life, aren’t “things” you can touch. We could all do with a little more magic!

Though muttered by the incomparable Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, this quote is actually from its sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. Life is too short to be serious all the time!

This quote wasn’t from one of Dahl’s children’s books, and instead comes from the controversial story of My Uncle Oswald. Though the book itself has some unsettling themes (to say the least!), this quote sums up the attitude I wish to instil in my kids. I’m a strong believer that you have to be passionate about something in life. Be it a hobby, a subject, a person or a sport; it’s these passions that make life enjoyable.

My middle child is a timid little thing who would shy away from conflict and things that scare him if he wasn’t given a bit of encouragement. We try to persuade him to try new things that are possibly out of his comfort zone. We don’t want him missing out on anything because he was too afraid to try. This quote from Danny, The Champion of the World, perfectly embodies what we are trying to teach him.

Matilda is full of important lessons. The importance of being kind, for example, or the power reading and knowledge can have. This quote is my favourite in a book full of inspirational lines. It shows us you don’t necessarily need to be physically tough or strong to be be brave and make a difference. We can change the world in small ways, by standing up for our friends and fighting for what is right.

Ahead of what would have been his 102nd birthday, it’s quotes like these that ensure his message lives on. Will you be celebrating Roald Dahl Day (13th September) this year? Let us know in the comments!