Original artwork, not a still
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
— Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory • 1971
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Wonka's whole philosophy fits into one line of verse: a little silliness is not a lapse in wisdom, it is a sign of it. Said by a man whose factory runs on whimsy and menace together, it doubles as a warning that the fun and the danger are the same thing. People quote it as an excuse to be playful.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Willy Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryShow the scene
In Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), Gene Wilder's Wonka delivers the proverb as he leads the golden-ticket winners through the factory, in the Chocolate Room sequence around the song 'Pure Imagination'. Screenwriter David Seltzer gave the film's Wonka a habit of quoting famous literary lines, which are not in Roald Dahl's book. The saying itself is much older than the film: it is an English proverb dating from at least the 18th century.
Sources (2)
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Wikiquote)Wonka's lines after 'Pure Imagination'Reference checked
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Wikipedia)WritingReference checked
Context reviewed
