Saturday, March 09, 2013

Lent Quote 22



22. “‘You’re really not going to like it,’ observed [the computer] Deep Thought. ‘Tell us!’ ‘All right,’ said Deep Thought. ‘The Answer to the Great Question . . .’ ‘Yes . . . !’ ‘Of Life, the Universe and Everything . . .’ said Deep Thought. ‘Yes . . . !’ ‘Is . . .’ said Deep Thought, and paused. ‘Yes . . . !’ ‘Is . . .’ ‘Yes . . . !!! . . . ?’ ‘Forty-two,’ said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.

It was a long time before anyone spoke. Out of the corner of his eye Phouchg could see the sea of tense expectant faces down in the square outside. ‘We’re going to get lynched, aren’t we?’ he whispered. ‘It was a tough assignment,’ said Deep Thought mildly. ‘Forty-two!’ yelled Loonquawl. ‘Is that all you’ve got to show for seven and a half million years’ work?’ ‘I checked it very thoroughly,’ said the computer, ‘and that quite definitely is the answer. I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you’ve never actually known what the question is.’”

Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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