Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

by Roald Dahl

“My dear old fish,” said Mr. Wonka, “go and boil your head!”

“Why use squirrels?” Mike Teavee asked. “Why not use Oompa-Loompas?”

I wonder if Mike being the one who always asks pertinent questions was intentional. His "lesson" is supposed to be that TV rots your brain and makes you lazy, but he's the one character in this story who shows any intellectual curiosity. At least Wonka answers his question this time instead of brushing him off or telling him to shut up like he's been doing up to this point.

“Who is this crazy man?” screamed Grandma Josephine. “He could have killed us all.”