Skip to content

Bad night Quote by Douglas Adams

“Ford and Arthur talking: "This is very, very serious indeed. The Guide has been taken over. It's been bought out." Arthur leapt up. "Oh, very serious," he shouted. "Please fill me in straight away on some corporate publishing politics! I can't tell you how much it's been on my mind of late!" "You…” quote by Douglas Adams
Download Open image
““Ford and Arthur talking: "This is very, very serious indeed. The Guide has been taken over. It's been bought out." Arthur leapt up. "Oh, very serious," he shouted. "Please fill me in straight away on some corporate publishing politics! I can't tell you how much it's been on my mind of late!" "You don't understand! There's a whole new Guide!" "Oh!" shouted Arthur again. "Oh! Oh! Oh! I'm incoherent with excitement! I can hardly wait for it to come out to find out which are the most exciting spaceports to get bored hanging about in in some globular cluster I've never heard of. Please, can we rush to a store that's got it right this very instant?" Ford narrowed his eyes. "This is what you call sarcasm, isn't it?" "Do you know," bellowed Arthur, "I think it is? I really think it might just be a crazy little thing called sarcasm seeping in at the edges of my manner of speech! Ford, I have had a fucking bad night! Will you please try and take that into account while you consider what fascinating bits of badger-sputumly inconsequential trivia to assail me with next?" ... "Temporal reverse engineering." Arthur put his head in his hands and shook it gently from side to side. "Is there any humane way," he moaned, "in which I can prevent you from telling me what temporary reverse bloody-whatsiting is?" ... "I leaped out of a high-rise office window." This cheered Arthur up. "Oh!" he said. "Why don't you do it again?" "I did." "Hmmm," said Arthur, disappointed. "Obviously no good came of it." ... "What was the self-sacrifice?" "I jettisoned half of a much-loved and I think irreplaceable pair of shoes." "Why was that self-sacrifice?" "Because they were mine!" said Ford, crossly. "I think we have different value systems." "Well, mine's better.””

Douglas Adams

About This Quote

Source Book: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 1979

A chaotic, humorous dialogue about absurdity, sarcasm, and existential frustration, highlighting the human tendency to overcomplicate simple concepts.

In simple terms: A funny, confusing conversation about sarcasm and weird ideas.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humor when facing absurdity.

Themes

humor absurdity communication frustration

Mood

playful ironic

Type

satirical conversational

When to use this quote

  • office banter
  • creative brainstorming
  • stress relief
  • team meetings
  • writing sessions

Key Concepts

sarcasm existentialism meta‑commentary

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does sarcasm affect clarity?
  • When is humor helpful?
A Different Perspective

Sarcasm can alienate listeners.

2.7 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by Douglas Adams

Explore all 1,168 Douglas Adams quotes

More Bad night quotes

Browse all 74 Bad night quotes