Average Quote by Douglas Adams
““POPULATION: None. It is known that there are an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Therefore, there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely the products of a deranged imagination.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 1979
The quote humorously argues that because the universe is infinite, the average population per world is effectively zero, making any encounter seem imagined.
In simple terms: Infinite space makes average population zero, so meetings feel imagined.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the absurdity of assuming significance in a vast cosmos.
Themes
existential
humor
cosmology
Mood
wry
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
humorous
When to use this quote
- philosophical musings
- science fiction discussions
- debates on extraterrestrial life
Key Concepts
infinity
probability
anthropic principle
Questions to Reflect On
- Does infinity truly nullify meaning?
- How do we find significance in a vast universe?
A Different Perspective
The argument oversimplifies statistical distribution across infinite sets.
![“Does God know he [exists]?" "Of course he does. Otherwise, you could not have asked the question, and I could not have answered.” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a21/douglas-adams-122_courses_does-god-know-he-exists-of-course-he-doe_26187.jpg)
