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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