---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here's what the Encyclopedia Galactica…"
description: "\"Here's what the Encyclopedia Galactica has to say about alcohol. It says that alcohol is a colourless volatile liquid formed by the fermentation of sug..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/douglas-adams-122_alcohol_here-s-what-the-encyclopedia-galactica-h_936205.png"
---

#  Here's what the Encyclopedia Galactica has to say about…

![“Here's what the Encyclopedia Galactica has to say about alcohol. It says that alcohol is a colourless volatile liquid formed by the fermentation of sugars and also notes its intoxicating effect on certain carbon-based life forms.” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/douglas-adams-122_alcohol_here-s-what-the-encyclopedia-galactica-h_936205.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/douglas-adams-122_alcohol_here-s-what-the-encyclopedia-galactica-h_936205.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/douglas-adams-122_alcohol_here-s-what-the-encyclopedia-galactica-h_936205.png)

> “Here's what the Encyclopedia Galactica has to say about alcohol. It says that alcohol is a colourless volatile liquid formed by the fermentation of sugars and also notes its intoxicating effect on certain carbon-based life forms.”

[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.

Alcohol is a clear, volatile liquid produced by fermenting sugars, known for its intoxicating effect on many carbon‑based organisms.

**In simple terms:** Alcohol is a clear drink made from sugar that can intoxicate.

Key Takeaway

Understand the basic chemistry and effects of alcohol.

Themes

science humor biology culture substance

Mood

witty informative lighthearted

Type

educational humorous

When to use this quote

- social gatherings
- medical education
- policy discussions
- personal health decisions

Key Concepts

chemistry fermentation intoxication anthropology

Questions to Reflect On

- What are the broader impacts of alcohol consumption?
- How does humor affect scientific communication?

A Different Perspective

May oversimplify complex social and health implications.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

## Related quotes

> [The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy also mentions alcohol. It says that the best drink in existence is the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-hitch-hiker-s-guide-to-the-galaxy-also-mentions-alcohol-it-says/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [They say that alcohol kills slowly. So what? Whos in a hurry?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-that-alcohol-kills-slowly-so-what-whos-in-a-hurry/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Liver failure is the easiest way to say 'no' to alcohol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bauvard/liver-failure-is-the-easiest-way-to-say-no-to-alcohol/)

[Bauvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bauvard/)

> [Bad day?" "Every day is a bad day here." "Eh, this place isnt't so terrible." "How are you always cheerful?" "Alcohol," he says with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/bad-day-every-day-is-a-bad-day-here-eh-this-place-isnt-t-so-terrible/)

[Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/)

> [Mom says 'Alcohol is your enemy'... Jesus says 'Love your enemy.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mom-says-alcohol-is-your-enemy-jesus-says-love-your-enemy/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Mom Says Alcohol Is Your Enemy... Jesus Says Love Your Enemy :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mom-says-alcohol-is-your-enemy-jesus-says-love-your-enemy-d/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Mom says, Alcohol is your enemy. Jesus says, Love your enemy. Case Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mom-says-alcohol-is-your-enemy-jesus-says-love-your-enemy-case-close/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When I drink alcohol...everyone says I'm alcoholic but When I drink Fanta...no one says I'm fantastic...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouravchauhan777/when-i-drink-alcohol-everyone-says-i-m-alcoholic-but-when-i-drink/)

Gouravchauhan777

> [The Encyclopedia Galactica defines a robot as a mechanical apparatus designed to do the work of a man. The marketing division of the Sirius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-encyclopedia-galactica-defines-a-robot-as-a-mechanical-apparatus/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [Unquiet souls. In the dark fermentation of earth, in the never idle workshop of nature, in the eternal movement, yea shall find yourselves again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/unquiet-souls-in-the-dark-fermentation-of-earth-in-the-never-idle/)

[Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/)

> [My present and most fixed opinion regarding the nature of alcoholic fermentation is this: The chemical act of fermentation is essentially a phenomenon correlative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/my-present-and-most-fixed-opinion-regarding-the-nature-of-alcoholic/)

[Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/)

> [Philosophy is a state of fermentation a process without final outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-saarinen/philosophy-is-a-state-of-fermentation-a-process-without-final-outcome/)

Esa Saarinen

> [Great fury, like great whisky, requires long fermentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/great-fury-like-great-whisky-requires-long-fermentation/)

[Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/)

> [I have wished to see chemistry applied to domestic objects, to malting, for instance, brewing, making cider, to fermentation and distillation generally, to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-wished-to-see-chemistry-applied-to-domestic-objects-to-malting/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [ \[The doctrine of air\] I was led into in consequence of inhabiting a house adjoining to a public brewery, where I at first amused… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-priestley/the-doctrine-of-air-i-was-led-into-in-consequence-of-inhabiting-a/)

[Joseph Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-priestley/)

## 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 Alcohol quotes

> [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/)

[Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/)

> [You can get a new phone or new trainers (sneakers) but you've only got one body so you have to look after it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-beckford/you-can-get-a-new-phone-or-new-trainers-sneakers-but-you-ve-only-got/)

Tyson Beckford

> [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/)

[Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/)

> [In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/in-1969-i-gave-up-women-and-alcohol-it-was-the-worst-20-minutes-of-my/)

[George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/)

> [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/)

[W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/)

> [Alcohol is like Photoshop for real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/alcohol-is-like-photoshop-for-real-life/)

[Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/)

> [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/)

David Norman

> [Blunt force didn't knock out the drug epidemic. 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol. And half of all federal inmates are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-botticelli/blunt-force-didn-t-knock-out-the-drug-epidemic-21-million-americans/)

[Michael Botticelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-botticelli/)

> [I go to parties sometimes until four, it's hard to leave when you can't find the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-go-to-parties-sometimes-until-four-it-s-hard-to-leave-when-you-can/)

[Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/)

> [I can't fill the hole with money. I can't fill it with alcohol, or drugs, or sex, so what do I need to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/i-can-t-fill-the-hole-with-money-i-can-t-fill-it-with-alcohol-or/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [Cocaine decisions that you make today, will mean nothing later on when you get nose decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/cocaine-decisions-that-you-make-today-will-mean-nothing-later-on-when/)

[Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/)

> [I take really good care of myself. I promised myself long ago that I would never miss a hunting season, never poison my sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-take-really-good-care-of-myself-i-promised-myself-long-ago-that-i/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

[Browse all 1,953 Alcohol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Here's what the Encyclopedia Galactica has to say about alcohol. It says that alcohol is a colourless volatile liquid formed by the fermentation of sugars and also notes its intoxicating effect on certain carbon-based life forms.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Douglas Adams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/here-s-what-the-encyclopedia-galactica-has-to-say-about-alcohol-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alcohol"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/here-s-what-the-encyclopedia-galactica-has-to-say-about-alcohol-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/douglas-adams-122_alcohol_here-s-what-the-encyclopedia-galactica-h_936205.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/douglas-adams-122_alcohol_here-s-what-the-encyclopedia-galactica-h_936205.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/douglas-adams-122_alcohol_here-s-what-the-encyclopedia-galactica-h_936205.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Here's what the Encyclopedia Galactica has to say about alcohol. It says that alcohol is a colourless…” — Douglas Adams",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Douglas Adams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Here's what the Encyclopedia Galactica has...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/here-s-what-the-encyclopedia-galactica-has-to-say-about-alcohol-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/here-s-what-the-encyclopedia-galactica-has-to-say-about-alcohol-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
