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Human condition Quote by Douglas Adams

“We’re terribly worried about Uncle Henry. He thinks he’s a chicken.’ ‘Well, why don’t you send him to the doctor?’ ‘Well, we would, only we need the eggs.’ ” Standish stared at her as if a small but perfectly formed elderberry tree had suddenly sprung unbidden from the bridge of her nose. “Say…” quote by Douglas Adams
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““We’re terribly worried about Uncle Henry. He thinks he’s a chicken.’ ‘Well, why don’t you send him to the doctor?’ ‘Well, we would, only we need the eggs.’ ” Standish stared at her as if a small but perfectly formed elderberry tree had suddenly sprung unbidden from the bridge of her nose. “Say that again,” he said in a small, shocked voice. “What, all of it?” “All of it.” Kate stuck her fist on her hip and said it again, doing the voices with a bit more dash and Southern accents this time. “That’s brilliant,” Standish breathed when she had done. “You must have heard it before,” she said, a little surprised by this response. “It’s an old joke.” “No,” he said, “I have not. We need the eggs. We need the eggs. We need the eggs. ‘We can’t send him to the doctor because we need the eggs.’ An astounding insight into the central paradoxes of the human condition and of our indefatigable facility for constructing adaptive rationales to account for it. Good God.” Kate””

Douglas Adams

About This Quote

Source Novel: The Salmon of Doubt (unfinished) by Douglas Adams, 2000

The humor highlights how people create absurd rationales to justify selfish needs, even when they contradict logic or morality.

In simple terms: People make ridiculous excuses to keep what they want.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and question self‑serving justifications.

Themes

humor human nature paradox irrationality

Mood

ironic playful critical

Type

satire dialogue anecdote

When to use this quote

  • family dynamics
  • resource scarcity
  • ethical dilemmas
  • personal relationships

Key Concepts

self‑interest cognitive dissonance social critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we cling to selfish rationales?
  • How can we balance self‑interest with empathy?
A Different Perspective

The joke may oversimplify complex moral decisions, ignoring genuine concerns.

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