Roald Dahl - A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men

Welcome to the Daily Quote – a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, for September 13th.Today is Roald Dahl Day, celebrating the birthday of one of the world's most beloved storytellers. Born on September 13th, 1916, Dahl gave us unforgettable characters like Matilda, Charlie Bucket, the Big Friendly Giant, and Willy Wonka. His stories transported millions of children and adults into worlds where chocolate rivers flow, giant peaches sail across oceans, and a little girl with extraordinary powers stands up to bullies.What made Dahl special wasn't just his wild imagination, but his ability to see the world through a child's eyes while addressing very adult themes. His books celebrated the power of kindness, the importance of standing up to injustice, and the magic that exists in everyday life if we're brave enough to look for it.Before becoming a children's author, Dahl was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot, an intelligence officer, and a diplomat – experiences that perhaps taught him that truth really can be stranger than fiction, and that real heroes often come in unexpected packages.Today's quote comes from Roald Dahl himself, who said:"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."Roald Dahl understood something that many adults forget as they get older – that there's profound wisdom in maintaining a sense of playfulness and wonder. His quote reminds us that nonsense isn't the opposite of wisdom; it's often a pathway to it.Think about Dahl's greatest characters. They're often the ones who embrace a little nonsense – Charlie's grandfather who dances despite being bedridden, Matilda who moves objects with her mind, the BFG who catches dreams and blows them into children's bedrooms. These characters achieve extraordinary things not in spite of their whimsical nature, but because of it.When we allow ourselves moments of silliness, wonder, and childlike curiosity, we're not being frivolous – we're keeping alive the part of ourselves that can see possibilities others miss. We're maintaining the flexibility of mind that allows us to find creative solutions and experience joy in unexpected places.I remember reading "The BFG" to my kids and initially thinking some of the wordplay was just silly nonsense – "whiffsy-whaff" and "scrumdiddlyumptious" seemed like meaningless fun. But then I realized Dahl was teaching them that language itself can be playful, that words can be toys, and that communication doesn't always have to follow strict rules to be meaningful.That's the gift Dahl was talking about – the wisdom to know that taking ourselves too seriously all the time actually limits our ability to think creatively and connect with others.There's something liberating about giving ourselves permission to embrace a little nonsense. It reminds us that not everything has to be productive or practical to be valuable. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is laugh, play, and let our imaginations run free.So today, as we celebrate Roald Dahl Day, let's embrace his wisdom about the value of nonsense. Maybe it's time to read a silly book, play an impractical game, tell a ridiculous joke, or simply approach a problem with the kind of whimsical creativity that Dahl championed.Remember, the wisest people aren't those who never act foolishly – they're those who understand that a little foolishness, a touch of wonder, and a willingness to see magic in the ordinary can make life infinitely richer.As Dahl himself might say, let's keep a little nonsense in our hearts, because that's often where the most scrumdiddlyumptious ideas are born.That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern, signing off for now, but I'll be back tomorrow – same pod time, same pod station – with another Daily Quote.