30 "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" Quotes

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Updated July 18, 2023 | Infoplease Staff

Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" has been a beloved children's book for generations since its publication in 1964. The story follows a young boy named Charlie Bucket as he wins a golden ticket to tour the eccentric Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, against all odds and his family’s expectations — particularly Grandpa George. Along the way, Charlie and the other ticket winners encounter strange and magical situations that test their character and reveal their true natures.

The book is known for its imaginative settings, memorable characters, and witty dialogue, particularly from Willy Wonka himself. It has remained a beloved story for generations, with its enduring popularity leading to multiple adaptations, including films, stage productions, and even theme park attractions in the U.K. ^[1] In this list, we have compiled some of the best quotes from the entire book — especially from Mr. Wonka, himself!

30 Chocolate Factory Quotes for All

From fudge to candy bars, ice creams to fizzy lifting drinks, here are 30 of the best quotes from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" that are sure to delight readers of all ages.

"So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it." — Willy Wonka.

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"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men." — Willy Wonka.
"What is this, Wonka, some kind of funhouse?”

“Why, are you having fun?”

”No, I'm not.”

“Then we must be in the wrong place." — Mr. Salt and Willy Wonka.
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." — Willy Wonka.
"Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker." — Willy Wonka.
"Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple." — Willy Wonka.

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"Everything in this room is eatable. Even I'm eatable. But that is called cannibalism, my dear children, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies." — Willy Wonka.
"Mr. Willy Wonka can make marshmallows that taste of violets, and rich caramels that change colour every ten seconds as you suck them, and little feathery sweets that melt away deliciously the moment you put them between your lips. He can make chewing-gum that never loses its taste, and sugar balloons that you can blow up to enormous sizes before you pop them with a pin and gobble them up. And, by a most secret method, he can make lovely blue birds' eggs with black spots on them, and when you put one of these in your mouth, it gradually gets smaller and smaller until suddenly there is nothing left except a tiny little dark-red sugary baby bird sitting on the tip of your tongue." — Grandpa Joe.
"Oh, you should never, never doubt what nobody is sure about." — Willy Wonka.
"So shines a good deed in a weary world." — Willy Wonka.
"I'm sorry, but all questions must be submitted in writing. And so, in accordance with this principle of justice, fairness, equality and common sense, I now ask you: why are you here?”

[Charlie Bucket, while writing] “I'm here to try and win the Golden Ticket, sir.”

”Correct. Next question." — Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket.
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"There's no earthly way of knowing which direction we are going." — Willy Wonka.
"Whipped cream isn't whipped cream at all if it hasn't been whipped with whips, just like poached eggs isn't poached eggs unless it's been stolen in the dead of the night." — Willy Wonka.
"Whoever heard of a snozzberry?" — Veruca Salt.
“Don't just stand there with your mouth open like a codfish, Henry. Say something.” — Willy Wonka.
"I'm a gum chewer, normally. But when I heard about these ticket things of Wonka's, I laid off the gum and switched to candy bars, instead. Now, of course, I'm right back on gum. I chew it all day, except at mealtimes when I stick it behind my ear." — Violet Beauregarde.

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"I've heard tell that what you imagine sometimes comes true." — Grandpa Joe.
"Oh, you can't get out backwards. You've got to go forwards to go back, better press on." — Willy Wonka.
"I'm a Trunchbull, I'm proud to say. We are tough, we are mean. We are...”

”The only ones who will ever get anywhere.”

”But surely you don't believe that.”

”Of course I do. By the time I'm 30, I'll have a hundred workers of my own." — Miss Trunchbull, Veruca Salt, and Charlie Bucket.
“A whangdoodle would eat ten Oompa-Loompas for breakfast and come galloping back for a second helping.” — Willy Wonka.
"The snozzberries taste like snozzberries!" — Veruca Salt.
"All right, where is this tearoom?”

”Oh, it's not so much a tearoom, more of a, well, a chocolate palace, really.”

”And who's going to run this chocolate palace of yours?”

”Me, of course." — Mr. Salt, Willy Wonka, and Mrs. Salt.

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"The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last." — Willy Wonka.
"Oh, this is my absolute favorite kind of work. I could do it for hours and hours." — Mike Teavee.
"Don’t you want to know our names?" — Augustus Gloop.
"Don't you know what this is? It's Wonka's latest and greatest invention — it's a candy that can never be duplicated. They call it a 'Scrumdiddlyumptious Bar.'" — Willy Wonka.
“I have a blue coat," she said. "And a blue hat with a feather. And a really pretty silk dress. And I will have a chocolate bar, too, because that is what I always have when I'm feeling happy.” — Veruca Salt.

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"And Charlie, don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted.”

“What happened?”

“He lived happily ever after." — Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket.
"We are the dreamers, we are the makers of dreams." — Willy Wonka.

In A Whole World of Pure Imagination…

Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers, grown-ups and children alike, for generations. From its quirky characters like Oompa-Loompas to its imaginative settings, the book is a treasure trove of whimsical delights. And perhaps most memorable of all are the witty and insightful quotes from the eccentric Willy Wonka.

Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering the story for the first time, these 30 quotes are sure to spark your imagination and take you on a journey into the deliciously delightful world of Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory — without being a “waste of precious time”.

So, go ahead, indulge your sweet tooth, and let your imagination run wild! And if you are interested in learning more, you can explore resources for Roald Dahl's writing on our sister site, Teachit.

Among beloved authors, Roald Dahl is not the only one. Why not test your children's book knowledge and see how well you fare with our Dr. Seuss' Books Quiz or challenge yourself with our Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Movie Quiz?