--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Both Matilda and Lavender were…" description: "\"Both Matilda and Lavender were enthralled. It was quite clear to them that they were at this moment standing in the presence of a master. Here was some..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/roald-dahl-899_art_both-matilda-and-lavender-were-enthralle_653223.jpg" --- # Both Matilda and Lavender were enthralled. It was quite… ![“Both Matilda and Lavender were enthralled. It was quite clear to them that they were at this moment standing in the presence of a master. Here was somebody who had brought the art of skulduggery to the highest point of perfection, somebody, moreover, who was willing to risk life and limb in…” quote by Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/roald-dahl-899_art_both-matilda-and-lavender-were-enthralle_653223.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/roald-dahl-899_art_both-matilda-and-lavender-were-enthralle_653223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/roald-dahl-899_art_both-matilda-and-lavender-were-enthralle_653223.jpg) > “Both Matilda and Lavender were enthralled. It was quite clear to them that they were at this moment standing in the presence of a master. Here was somebody who had brought the art of skulduggery to the highest point of perfection, somebody, moreover, who was willing to risk life and limb in pursuit of her calling. They gazed in wonder at this goddess, and suddenly even the boil on her nose was no longer a blemish but a badge of courage.” [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage admires a character whose skill in deception is unmatched, viewing her as a daring, courageous figure worthy of reverence. **In simple terms:** A master of clever tricks is praised as brave and admirable. Key Takeaway Respect and learn from bold, skilled individuals. Themes admiration skill courage risk mastery Mood wonder reverence inspired Type literary character inspirational When to use this quote - learning from mentors - applying daring tactics - celebrating expertise - recognizing bravery Key Concepts deception heroism risk-taking expertise Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make a master worthy of reverence? - When does admiration become blind? A Different Perspective Such admiration may overlook moral ambiguity of deceptive actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Badges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/badges/) [Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Enthralled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthralled/) [Gazed Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gazed-wonder-582458/) [Goddess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goddess/) [Goddess Suddenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goddess-suddenly-5219927/) [Lavender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lavender/) [Lavender Enthralled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lavender-enthralled-5219925/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Limbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limbs/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Matilda Lavender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matilda-lavender-5219926/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Noses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noses/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-life/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, that one small head could carry all he knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/and-still-they-gazed-and-still-the-wonder-grew-that-one-small-head/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“In the time that man has been here there is one thing that all have seen and gazed upon in wonder. Luna.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paul-flateau/in-the-time-that-man-has-been-here-there-is-one-thing-that-all-have/) [Christopher Paul Flateau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paul-flateau/) > [One is always enthralled, I think, when a young writer you're just beginning to read and comprehend dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-williams/one-is-always-enthralled-i-think-when-a-young-writer-you-re-just/) [Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-williams/) > [My mom used to take me to the theater to see the tours that would come through D.C., and I loved it. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/my-mom-used-to-take-me-to-the-theater-to-see-the-tours-that-would/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [I've been enthralled by deep vistas of space and time ever since watching George Pal's film of 'The Time Machine,' while an early encounter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/i-ve-been-enthralled-by-deep-vistas-of-space-and-time-ever-since/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [“Don’t lose yourself in a man, that’ll make you lose your pizzazz indefinitely. Instead, lose yourself in your own sensuality and you’ll forever enchant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/don-t-lose-yourself-in-a-man-that-ll-make-you-lose-your-pizzazz/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [“I could leave the world of the book enthralled and inspired, but the real world awaited me, to caress or to kick me; reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-niles/i-could-leave-the-world-of-the-book-enthralled-and-inspired-but-the/) [Sara Niles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-niles/) > [When 'Apollo 13' appeared as an opportunity and I began to tackle that in as authentic a way as I possibly could, I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-howard/when-apollo-13-appeared-as-an-opportunity-and-i-began-to-tackle-that/) [Ron Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-howard/) > [“I think you've confused being enthralled with amusing yourself by irritating me.' 'Possibly,' he remarked. 'I do find pleasure in that.' He paused. 'Na'laa.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-think-you-ve-confused-being-enthralled-with-amusing-yourself-by/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [Still, it would have been great, just once, to have a man stare at her with total adoration. To have him be... enthralled. Yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/still-it-would-have-been-great-just-once-to-have-a-man-stare-at-her/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Your words seduced me,captured and imprisoned me in a world of wonders. Enthralled, I lie at your feet,slayed and yearning for more of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-alma/your-words-seduced-me-captured-and-imprisoned-me-in-a-world-of/) [D.Alma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-alma/) > [If you have read me for any length of time, you know I am less than enthralled with much of what passes for financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/if-you-have-read-me-for-any-length-of-time-you-know-i-am-less-than/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [I was so enthralled watching 'Guys and Dolls' and learning about the Rat Pack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-was-so-enthralled-watching-guys-and-dolls-and-learning-about-the/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [“What can I say? I'm taken; I love how enthralled she remains by this festival of living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/what-can-i-say-i-m-taken-i-love-how-enthralled-she-remains-by-this/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [I'm not all that enthralled by show business, and I'm not that much of a highbrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/i-m-not-all-that-enthralled-by-show-business-and-i-m-not-that-much-of/) [Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/) ## More by Roald Dahl > [Nowadays you can go anywhere in the world in a few hours, and nothing is fabulous any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/nowadays-you-can-go-anywhere-in-the-world-in-a-few-hours-and-nothing/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [When I walked to school in the mornings I would start out alone but would pick up four other boys along the way. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-i-walked-to-school-in-the-mornings-i-would-start-out-alone-but/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“There's no earthly way of knowing Which direction we are going There's no knowing where we're rowing Or which way the river's flowing Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/there-s-no-earthly-way-of-knowing-which-direction-we-are-going-there/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“One of the vital things for a writer who’s writing a book, which is a lengthy project and is going to take about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/one-of-the-vital-things-for-a-writer-who-s-writing-a-book-which-is-a/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“When Bruce Bogtrotter had eaten his way through half of the entire enormous cake, he paused for just a couple of seconds and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-bruce-bogtrotter-had-eaten-his-way-through-half-of-the-entire/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Eschew all those beastly adjectives...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/eschew-all-those-beastly-adjectives/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Bunkum and tummyrot! You'll never get anywhere if you go about what-iffing like that. Would Columbus have discovered America if he'd said 'What if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/bunkum-and-tummyrot-you-ll-never-get-anywhere-if-you-go-about-what/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [If the Good Lord intended for us to walk, he wouldn't have invented rollar skates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/if-the-good-lord-intended-for-us-to-walk-he-wouldn-t-have-invented/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [The witching hour, somebody had once whispered to her, was a special moment in the middle of the night when every child and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/the-witching-hour-somebody-had-once-whispered-to-her-was-a-special/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/those-who-don-t-believe-in-magic-will-never-find-it/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [But there was one other thing that the grown-ups also knew, and it was this: that however small the chance might be of striking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/but-there-was-one-other-thing-that-the-grown-ups-also-knew-and-it-was/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [When writing about oneself, one must strive to be truthful. Truth is more important than modesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-writing-about-oneself-one-must-strive-to-be-truthful-truth-is/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“the world is a scary place for such a small child”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/the-world-is-a-scary-place-for-such-a-small-child/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [And above all, watch with glittering eyes the world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/and-above-all-watch-with-glittering-eyes-the-world-around-you-because/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“We must hurry!’ said Mr. Wonka. ‘We have so much time and so little to do! No! Wait! Strike that! Reverse it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/we-must-hurry-said-mr-wonka-we-have-so-much-time-and-so-little-to-do/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) [Explore all 318 Roald Dahl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Both Matilda and Lavender were enthralled. It was quite clear to them that they were at this moment standing in the presence of a master. Here was somebody who had brought the art of skulduggery to the highest point of perfection, somebody, moreover, who was willing to risk life and limb in pursuit of her calling. They gazed in wonder at this goddess, and suddenly even the boil on her nose was no longer a blemish but a badge of courage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roald Dahl" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/both-matilda-and-lavender-were-enthralled-it-was-quite-clear-to-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/both-matilda-and-lavender-were-enthralled-it-was-quite-clear-to-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/roald-dahl-899_art_both-matilda-and-lavender-were-enthralle_653223.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/roald-dahl-899_art_both-matilda-and-lavender-were-enthralle_653223.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/roald-dahl-899_art_both-matilda-and-lavender-were-enthralle_653223.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Both Matilda and Lavender were enthralled. It was quite clear to them that they were at this moment standing…” — Roald Dahl", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Roald Dahl", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Both Matilda and Lavender were enthralled....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/both-matilda-and-lavender-were-enthralled-it-was-quite-clear-to-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/both-matilda-and-lavender-were-enthralled-it-was-quite-clear-to-them/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```