Humor Quote by Douglas Adams
““Sir Isaac Newton, renowned inventor of the milled-edge coin and the catflap!" "The what?" said Richard. "The catflap! A device of the utmost cunning, perspicuity and invention. It is a door within a door, you see, a ..." "Yes," said Richard, "there was also the small matter of gravity." "Gravity," said Dirk with a slightly dismissed shrug, "yes, there was that as well, I suppose. Though that, of course, was merely a discovery. It was there to be discovered." ... "You see?" he said dropping his cigarette butt, "They even keep it on at weekends. Someone was bound to notice sooner or later. But the catflap ... ah, there is a very different matter. Invention, pure creative invention. It is a door within a door, you see.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 1979
Invention is likened to a clever hidden mechanism, emphasizing creativity beyond mere discovery.
In simple terms: Creative inventions are like hidden doors, deeper than simple findings.
Value creative insight over obvious discoveries.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- product design
- scientific research
- problem solving
- artistic creation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you turn a simple idea into a deeper, more useful invention?
- What hidden doors exist in your field?
Even the best discoveries need creative framing to be impactful.