--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Arthur: If I asked you where the hell we…" description: "\"“Arthur: If I asked you where the hell we were, would I regret it? Ford: We're safe. Arthur: Oh good. Ford: We're in a small galley cabin in one of the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f6/douglas-adams-122_safe_arthur-if-i-asked-you-where-the-hell-we_3153615.png" --- # Arthur: If I asked you where the hell we were, would I… ![“Arthur: If I asked you where the hell we were, would I regret it? Ford: We're safe. Arthur: Oh good. Ford: We're in a small galley cabin in one of the spaceships of the Vogon Constructor Fleet. Arthur: Ah, this is obviously some strange use of the word safe that I wasn't previously aware of.” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f6/douglas-adams-122_safe_arthur-if-i-asked-you-where-the-hell-we_3153615.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f6/douglas-adams-122_safe_arthur-if-i-asked-you-where-the-hell-we_3153615.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f6/douglas-adams-122_safe_arthur-if-i-asked-you-where-the-hell-we_3153615.png) > ““Arthur: If I asked you where the hell we were, would I regret it? Ford: We're safe. Arthur: Oh good. Ford: We're in a small galley cabin in one of the spaceships of the Vogon Constructor Fleet. Arthur: Ah, this is obviously some strange use of the word safe that I wasn't previously aware of.”” [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Arthur questions the safety of their location, revealing absurd bureaucratic danger. **In simple terms:** Questioning safety reveals hidden absurdities. Key Takeaway Beware of complacent safety claims. Themes absurdity bureaucracy trust Mood ironic lighthearted Type dialogue humorous When to use this quote - space travel - bureaucratic oversight - team dynamics Key Concepts existential humor satire safety perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess safety when information is limited? - When does humor reveal truth? A Different Perspective Safety may be a false comfort in chaotic systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arthur Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arthur-asked-969585/) [Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) [Safe Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe-arthur-5671016/) [Safe Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe-wasn-3861261/) [Safety in numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety-in-numbers-162504/) [Spaceships Vogon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spaceships-vogon-5671015/) [Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word/) [Wordplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wordplay/) ## Related quotes > [Ah, this is obviously some strange usage of the word 'safe' that I wasn't previously aware of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/ah-this-is-obviously-some-strange-usage-of-the-word-safe-that-i-wasn/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“I have detected," he said, "disturbances in the wash." ... Arthur asked him to repeat what he had just said because he hadn't quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-have-detected-he-said-disturbances-in-the-wash-arthur-asked-him-to/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Safe wasn't quite what appealed to her right then. Safe wasn't how she felt. Invincible, in control, powerful- those words felt closer to true. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/safe-wasn-t-quite-what-appealed-to-her-right-then-safe-wasn-t-how-she/) [Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/) > [“She whistled long and low. "Vampires really are bastards, aren't they?" -"What was your first clue?" Arthur asked dryly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mur-lafferty/she-whistled-long-and-low-vampires-really-are-bastards-aren-t-they/) [Mur Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mur-lafferty/) > [“Most of the time they buy what other people buy. 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They are based on the premise of safety in numbers; content to survive inconspicuously, rather than take risks and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-porsche/committees-are-by-nature-timid-they-are-based-on-the-premise-of/) [Ferdinand Porsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-porsche/) > [I've never belonged to any group that didn't have at least one member who wasn't a total dick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-cowles/i-ve-never-belonged-to-any-group-that-didn-t-have-at-least-one-member/) [Rock Cowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-cowles/) > [In the 1998 Oscars, I found myself in the bathroom in a stall, next to Tom Selleck. So I leaned over and I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/in-the-1998-oscars-i-found-myself-in-the-bathroom-in-a-stall-next-to/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [“Our cadaverous cadre has been walking for little over a day...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-marion/our-cadaverous-cadre-has-been-walking-for-little-over-a-day/) [Isaac Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-marion/) ## More by Douglas Adams > [2,000 years ago one man got nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be if everyone was nice to each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/2-000-years-ago-one-man-got-nailed-to-a-tree-for-saying-how-great-it/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The technology involved in making anything invisible is so infinitely complex that nine hundred and ninety-nine billion, nine hundred and ninety-nine million, nine hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-technology-involved-in-making-anything-invisible-is-so-infinitely/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [One is never alone with a rubber duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/one-is-never-alone-with-a-rubber-duck/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [This must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/this-must-be-thursday-i-never-could-get-the-hang-of-thursdays/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [There are some oddities in the perspective with which we see the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-are-some-oddities-in-the-perspective-with-which-we-see-the-world/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Eight hours West sat a man alone on a beach mourning an inexplicable loss. He could only think of his loss in little packets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/eight-hours-west-sat-a-man-alone-on-a-beach-mourning-an-inexplicable/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“The Universe, the whole infinite Universe. The infinite suns, the infinite distances between them, and yourself an invisible dot on an invisible dot, infinitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-universe-the-whole-infinite-universe-the-infinite-suns-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [People always make this totally artificial distinction between what is commercial and what is good. They quote that maxim "Nobody ever lost money underestimating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/people-always-make-this-totally-artificial-distinction-between-what/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/any-man-who-can-hitch-the-length-and-breadth-of-the-galaxy-rough-it/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [ Does God know he \[exists\]?" "Of course he does. Otherwise, you could not have asked the question, and I could not have answered. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/does-god-know-he-exists-of-course-he-does-otherwise-you-could-not/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“When we told our guide that we didn't want to go to all the tourist places he took us instead to the places where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/when-we-told-our-guide-that-we-didn-t-want-to-go-to-all-the-tourist/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“But Douglas was a genius, because he saw the world differently, and more importantly, he could communicate the world he saw.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/but-douglas-was-a-genius-because-he-saw-the-world-differently-and/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“The bits which did mean anything were often so wonderfully buried that no one could ever spot them slipping past in the avalanche of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-bits-which-did-mean-anything-were-often-so-wonderfully-buried/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [You come to me for advice, but you can't cope with anything you don't recognize. Hmmm. So we'll have to tell you something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/you-come-to-me-for-advice-but-you-can-t-cope-with-anything-you-don-t/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) [Explore all 1,168 Douglas Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## More Safe quotes > [You just say the word, and I'll make the rest of the world go away. I'll take you someplace safe, where no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/you-just-say-the-word-and-i-ll-make-the-rest-of-the-world-go-away-i/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We want our streets and communities to be safe and secure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/we-want-our-streets-and-communities-to-be-safe-and-secure/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [I knew I really had to put down a good run. I played it safe, and took risks when I could, and I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mancuso/i-knew-i-really-had-to-put-down-a-good-run-i-played-it-safe-and-took/) [Julia Mancuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-mancuso/) > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) [William Henry Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-pickering/) > [We don't spend loads of money. I want to make sure that when I'm gone, my wife is looked after and financially safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-wallace/we-don-t-spend-loads-of-money-i-want-to-make-sure-that-when-i-m-gone/) [Gregg Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-wallace/) > [Of course, learning is strengthened and solidified when it occurs in a safe, secure and normal environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bertrand-aristide/of-course-learning-is-strengthened-and-solidified-when-it-occurs-in-a/) [Jean-Bertrand Aristide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bertrand-aristide/) > [My featherbed is deep and soft, and there I’ll lay you down, I’ll dress you all in yellow silk and on your head a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-featherbed-is-deep-and-soft-and-there-i-ll-lay-you-down-i-ll-dress/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/these-days-grief-seems-like-walking-on-a-frozen-river-most-of-the/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Anytime I get the chance to sing or work with Michael John, it is such an incredibly fertile and incredibly creative and safe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/anytime-i-get-the-chance-to-sing-or-work-with-michael-john-it-is-such/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [My mom cares that I tweeted a picture of my breakfast. She's knows I'm eating and I'm safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/my-mom-cares-that-i-tweeted-a-picture-of-my-breakfast-she-s-knows-i-m/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [There is a safe spot within every tornado. My job is to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/there-is-a-safe-spot-within-every-tornado-my-job-is-to-find-it/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [United Way works to create a safe and healthy home for everyone in our community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steward/united-way-works-to-create-a-safe-and-healthy-home-for-everyone-in/) [David Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steward/) > [Western culture is what keeps women and gays safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/western-culture-is-what-keeps-women-and-gays-safe/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [I know what my causes are. And I care about them, so I'd rather get out there and talk about them than just play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adwoa-aboah/i-know-what-my-causes-are-and-i-care-about-them-so-i-d-rather-get-out/) [Adwoa Aboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adwoa-aboah/) [Browse all 4,589 Safe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Arthur: If I asked you where the hell we were, would I regret it? Ford: We're safe. Arthur: Oh good. Ford: We're in a small galley cabin in one of the spaceships of the Vogon Constructor Fleet. 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