Quote of the day by Roald Dahl: ‘If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams…’

Dahl's quote from The Twits highlights that true beauty arises from good character and positive thoughts. It challenges societal views on external beauty, advocating for kindness and an uplifting attitude as the core of attractiveness, reminding us that how we make others feel is what truly matters.

Livemint
Updated1 Jun 2026, 05:49 PM IST
Quote of the day by Roald Dahl
Quote of the day by Roald Dahl

“If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
Roald Dahl

The quote reveals that true beauty comes from kindness, positivity, and good character. Inner goodness reflects outwardly and makes a person genuinely attractive.

This quote is from the children's book The Twits by Roald Dahl. In the story, Dahl contrasts the ugly behaviour of the characters Mr and Mrs Twit with the idea that beautiful thoughts can make a person appear beautiful, regardless of physical appearance.

Meaning of the quote

The quote emphasizes that a person's inner thoughts and character are more important than their physical appearance. Roald Dahl suggests that people who think positively, act kindly, and care about others develop a natural charm that shines through their expressions and actions. Just as sunlight brightens everything it touches, good thoughts brighten a person's face and personality.

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On the other hand, negative thoughts such as jealousy, hatred, and selfishness can affect the way a person looks and behaves. According to Dahl, true beauty is not determined by facial features, fashion, or appearance but by the goodness that comes from within. The quote teaches that cultivating a positive mindset can make someone genuinely lovely and attractive.

Why this quote resonates

This quote resonates because it challenges society's obsession with external beauty. In today's world, people are often judged by their appearance, social media presence, or material possessions. Roald Dahl reminds us that lasting beauty comes from character and attitude rather than physical looks.

Many people have experienced meeting someone who became more attractive because of their kindness, warmth, and positivity. Similarly, a person with negative behaviour may appear less appealing despite being physically attractive. The quote highlights a universal truth: people are remembered more for how they make others feel than for how they look. This message remains relevant across cultures and generations.

How you can implement this

You can apply this quote in everyday life by consciously developing positive thoughts and habits. Practice kindness toward others, show gratitude, and focus on solutions instead of problems. Treat people with respect and empathy, even in difficult situations.

Avoid dwelling on negativity, jealousy, or resentment. Reading inspiring books, helping others, maintaining a positive outlook, and surrounding yourself with supportive people can contribute to healthier thinking. Smiling genuinely, being compassionate, and appreciating the good in life are practical ways to let your inner positivity shine outward.

By focusing on personal growth and good character, you can build confidence and create meaningful relationships. Over time, these qualities become visible in your expressions, behaviour, and interactions with others.

Who is Roald Dahl?

Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was a famous British novelist, poet, and screenwriter known for his imaginative and beloved children's books. His works include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, and James and the Giant Peach. His stories often combine humour, creativity, and valuable life lessons. Dahl remains one of the most influential children's authors in the world, and his writings continue to inspire readers with messages about courage, kindness, imagination, and the importance of good character.

About the Author

For about a decade, Livemint—News Desk has been a credible source for authentic and timely news, and well-researched analysis on national news, business, personal finance, corporates, politics and geopolitics. We bring the latest updates on all the listed companies on BSE and NSE, startups, mutual funds, Union ministries, geopolitics, and untapped human interest stories from around the world, helping our readers to stay informed on the latest developments around the globe. Our Coverage Areas 1. Companies: Comprehensive news and analysis on listed and unlisted companies, corporate announcements, corporate chatter, C-suite, business trends, hiring alerts, layoffs, work-life balance, world's top billionaires and richest and more. 2. Personal finance: Insights into mutual funds, small savings schemes like - PPF, SSY, post office savings scheme, stock to watch, personal loans, credit cards, top bank FDs, real estate, income tax and more. 3. Politics: Comprehensive coverage of general elections, state elections and bypolls, Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Parliament, PMO, PIB, finance ministry, home ministry, among other union ministries and government departments. 4. National News: From metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and e to untapped stories from rural India, we cover human interest, health, education, crime and courts, and law and order, among other areas of public interest. 5. Economy: In-depth analysis of India's macro and micro-economic indicators like- GDP, inflation, forex, fiscal deficit, current account deficit, interest rate cycle, economic recovery, RBI circulars, indirect taxes, GST, Insolvency and Bankruptcy imports, exports and everything that impacts Indian economy. 6. Geopolitics: Well-rounded and deeply researched coverage on US News, Oval Office European Union, Ukraine Russia War, middle-east crisis, royal families and global leaders like - Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping and premiers of other leading economies in the world. Meet the Team 1. Gulam Jeelani, Political Affairs Editor 2. Sugam Singhal, Senior Assistant Editor 3. Chanchal, Assistant Editor 4. Sanchari Ghosh, Chief Content Producer 5. Pratik Prashant Mukane, Chief Content Producer 6. Sayantani Biswas, Chief Content Producer 7. Ravi Hari, Deputy Chief Content Producer 8. Garvit Bhirani, Deputy Chief Content Producer 9. Akriti Anand, Senior Content Producer 10. Jocelyn Felix Fernandes, Senior Content Producer 11. Swastika Das Sharma, Content Producer 12. Mausam Jha, Content Producer 13. Riya R Alex, Trainee Content Producer

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