--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I incline to the quantum mechanical view…" description: "\"“I incline to the quantum mechanical view in this matter. My theory is that your cat is not lost, but that his waveform has temporarily collapsed and m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/douglas-adams-122_dirk-gently_i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view_2412660.png" --- # I incline to the quantum mechanical view in this matter… ![“I incline to the quantum mechanical view in this matter. My theory is that your cat is not lost, but that his waveform has temporarily collapsed and must be restored. Schrödinger. Planck. And so on." -- Dirk Gently” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/douglas-adams-122_dirk-gently_i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view_2412660.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/douglas-adams-122_dirk-gently_i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view_2412660.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/douglas-adams-122_dirk-gently_i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view_2412660.png) > ““I incline to the quantum mechanical view in this matter. My theory is that your cat is not lost, but that his waveform has temporarily collapsed and must be restored. Schrödinger. Planck. And so on." -- Dirk Gently”” [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. The speaker humorously applies quantum mechanics to a cat’s disappearance, suggesting wavefunction collapse and restoration. **In simple terms:** Quantum theory used as a joke about a missing cat. Key Takeaway Don’t take scientific metaphors too literally. Themes science humor quantum mechanics metaphor absurdity Mood witty lighthearted Type satirical educational When to use this quote - creative writing - stand‑up comedy - educational satire - science communication Key Concepts wavefunction collapse Schrödinger’s cat fictional science Questions to Reflect On - How does humor affect understanding of science? - When is a scientific metaphor appropriate? A Different Perspective Humor can oversimplify complex ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dirk gently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirk-gently/) [Quantum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quantum/) ## Related quotes > [A further aspect I should like to discuss is what I call the practice of infinite escape clauses. I believe we developed this practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-w-fox/a-further-aspect-i-should-like-to-discuss-is-what-i-call-the-practice/) Sidney W. Fox > [“It is interesting to note that the quantum-mechanical revolution was made by a virtually orphaned generation of scientists. Many members of the generation above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-smolin/it-is-interesting-to-note-that-the-quantum-mechanical-revolution-was/) [Lee Smolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-smolin/) > [The movement of a single atom from one known position to another known position changes an experience from nothing to overwhelming. This means that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-movement-of-a-single-atom-from-one-known-position-to-another/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Nature isn't classical, dammit, and if you want to make a simulation of nature, you'd better make it quantum mechanical, and by golly it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/nature-isn-t-classical-dammit-and-if-you-want-to-make-a-simulation-of/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Biology seems to be a chemical strategy for amplifying quantum mechanical indeterminacy so that it leaves the subatomic realm and can be present in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/biology-seems-to-be-a-chemical-strategy-for-amplifying-quantum/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“Dirk Gently is the name under which I now trade. There are certain events in the past, I'm afraid, from which I would wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/dirk-gently-is-the-name-under-which-i-now-trade-there-are-certain/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Two places away to the left was the don who had been Richard’s Director of Studies in English, who showed no signs of recognising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/two-places-away-to-the-left-was-the-don-who-had-been-richard-s/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“I'm very glad you asked me that, Mrs Rawlinson. The term 'holistic' refers to my conviction that what we are concerned with here is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawlinson-the-term-holistic/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“This question about the reason we do not observe any quantum mechanical uncertainty in the appearance of flies or stars was never tackled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-genz/this-question-about-the-reason-we-do-not-observe-any-quantum/) [Henning Genz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-genz/) > [“relativity, and how to make sense of bizarre quantum mechanical behaviour — were considered in my previous book. I am pleased to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-thomas/relativity-and-how-to-make-sense-of-bizarre-quantum-mechanical/) [Andrew Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-thomas/) > [“The effect of the 'time becomes space' proposal is that there is no definite moment or point of creation. In more conventional quantum mechanical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-barrow/the-effect-of-the-time-becomes-space-proposal-is-that-there-is-no/) [John D. Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-barrow/) > [“Certain macroscopic objects directly display quantum mechanical effects. Superconductors and neutron stars-the latter behaving like atomic nuclei with a six-mile diameter-are macroscopic objects that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-genz/certain-macroscopic-objects-directly-display-quantum-mechanical/) [Henning Genz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-genz/) > [“What one needs is a quantum mechanical model with a wave function that describes not only various systems under study but also something representing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/what-one-needs-is-a-quantum-mechanical-model-with-a-wave-function/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [“To illustrate this relation, think of a game of table tennis. As the ball hits the table, it will bounce up and down. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-genz/to-illustrate-this-relation-think-of-a-game-of-table-tennis-as-the/) [Henning Genz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-genz/) > [Quantum Mechanics is different. Its weirdness is evident without comparison. It is harder to train your mind to have quantum mechanical tuition, because quantum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/quantum-mechanics-is-different-its-weirdness-is-evident-without/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) ## 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 Dirk gently quotes > [ The great irony to Dirk \[Gently\] is that he sees connections in everything, but the one thing he fails and struggles with most is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/the-great-irony-to-dirk-gently-is-that-he-sees-connections-in/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [ \[Dirk Gently\] just doesn't understand social cues. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/dirk-gently-just-doesn-t-understand-social-cues/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [ One of the joys of this show \[Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\] is that each of those characters could be starring in their own… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/one-of-the-joys-of-this-show-dirk-gently-s-holistic-detective-agency/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [There is more sexy-stuff a coming in this book, though… This ain't your grandmother's Dirk Gently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvind-ethan-david/there-is-more-sexy-stuff-a-coming-in-this-book-though-this-ain-t-your/) [Arvind Ethan David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvind-ethan-david/) > [ I think Dirk \[Gently\] thinks that he's a brilliant detective, but he's the worst detective, ever. He does have this particular skill, which I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/i-think-dirk-gently-thinks-that-he-s-a-brilliant-detective-but-he-s/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [ I read the script \[of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\] and went, "I haven't read anything this good, in a long time." I thought… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/i-read-the-script-of-dirk-gently-s-holistic-detective-agency-and-went/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [ Because I'm playing Dirk Gently \[ in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\], I'm so fond of Dirk. I really see Dirk's vulnerability, and you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/because-i-m-playing-dirk-gently-in-dirk-gently-s-holistic-detective/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [“Two places away to the left was the don who had been Richard’s Director of Studies in English, who showed no signs of recognising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/two-places-away-to-the-left-was-the-don-who-had-been-richard-s/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [ The thing about Dirk \[Gently\] is that he's very lonely. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/the-thing-about-dirk-gently-is-that-he-s-very-lonely/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [“Dirk Gently is the name under which I now trade. There are certain events in the past, I'm afraid, from which I would wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/dirk-gently-is-the-name-under-which-i-now-trade-there-are-certain/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“I'm very glad you asked me that, Mrs Rawlinson. The term 'holistic' refers to my conviction that what we are concerned with here is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawlinson-the-term-holistic/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [ Dirk Gently \[from Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\], needs a sidekick, as all good detectives do, and he gets this message from the universe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/dirk-gently-from-dirk-gently-s-holistic-detective-agency-needs-a/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [ The whole nature of the show \[ Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\] is that everything is connected, and everything is interconnected. You have all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/the-whole-nature-of-the-show-dirk-gently-s-holistic-detective-agency/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [ The great thing about the show \[ Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency\] is that there is so much more to be revealed. There are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/the-great-thing-about-the-show-dirk-gently-s-holistic-detective/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Dirk Gently has been a long passion (my career started with Douglas Adams and my stage adaptation of Dirk Gently) .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvind-ethan-david/dirk-gently-has-been-a-long-passion-my-career-started-with-douglas/) [Arvind Ethan David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvind-ethan-david/) [Browse all 17 Dirk gently quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirk-gently/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I incline to the quantum mechanical view in this matter. My theory is that your cat is not lost, but that his waveform has temporarily collapsed and must be restored. Schrödinger. Planck. And so on.\" -- Dirk Gently”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view-in-this-matter-my-theory-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dirk gently" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view-in-this-matter-my-theory-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/douglas-adams-122_dirk-gently_i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view_2412660.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/douglas-adams-122_dirk-gently_i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view_2412660.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/douglas-adams-122_dirk-gently_i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view_2412660.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I incline to the quantum mechanical view in this matter. My theory is that your cat is not lost, but that…” — 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": "“I incline to the quantum mechanical...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view-in-this-matter-my-theory-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view-in-this-matter-my-theory-is/#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 } } ] } ```