--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm very glad you asked me that, Mrs…" description: "\"“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 the fundamental in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/douglas-adams-122_detective_i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawl_2290010.png" --- # I'm very glad you asked me that, Mrs Rawlinson. The term… ![“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 the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. I do not concern myself with such petty things as fingerprint powder, telltale pieces of pocket fluff and inane…” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/douglas-adams-122_detective_i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawl_2290010.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/douglas-adams-122_detective_i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawl_2290010.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/douglas-adams-122_detective_i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawl_2290010.png) > ““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 the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. I do not concern myself with such petty things as fingerprint powder, telltale pieces of pocket fluff and inane footprints. I see the solution to each problem as being detectable in the pattern and web of the whole. The connections between causes and effects are often much more subtle and complex than we with our rough and ready understanding of the physical world might naturally suppose, Mrs Rawlinson. "Let me give you an example. If you go to an acupuncturist with toothache he sticks a needle instead into your thigh. Do you know why he does that, Mrs Rawlinson? No, neither do I, Mrs Rawlinson, but we intend to find out. A pleasure talking to you, Mrs Rawlinson. Goodbye.”” [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. Holistic thinking sees problems as part of a larger, interconnected pattern, suggesting solutions lie in understanding the whole rather than isolated details. **In simple terms:** Look at the whole picture, not just parts. Key Takeaway Adopt systems thinking. Themes interconnectedness holism systems thinking complexity Mood inquisitive analytical playful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - medical diagnosis - environmental policy - software design - urban planning - personal relationships Key Concepts Systems theory philosophy of science pattern recognition Questions to Reflect On - What patterns might you be missing in a current challenge? - How can you balance detail with the big picture? A Different Perspective Holistic approaches can overlook practical specifics needed for immediate action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Detective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detective/) [Dirk gently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirk-gently/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Example Acupuncturist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example-acupuncturist-5377730/) [Fundamental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental/) [Holistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holistic/) [Holistic Refers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holistic-refers-5377728/) [Interconnectedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interconnectedness/) [Rawlinson Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rawlinson-term-5377731/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Term Holistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-holistic-5377729/) ## Related quotes > [“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 incline to the quantum mechanical view in this matter. My theory is that your cat is not lost, but that his waveform has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-incline-to-the-quantum-mechanical-view-in-this-matter-my-theory-is/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“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/) > [ 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/) > [ 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/) > [ 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 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/) > [ 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/) > [ 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/) > [ 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/) > [ 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/) > [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/) > [ 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/) > [ \[Dirk Gently\] 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/) > [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/) ## 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 Detective quotes > [“When I saw the Twilight movies I thought being a Vampyre was so romantic. When my friends decided to be Vampyres it was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abramelin-keldor/when-i-saw-the-twilight-movies-i-thought-being-a-vampyre-was-so/) [Abramelin Keldor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abramelin-keldor/) > [The general public have a warped view of the speed at which an investigation proceeds. They like to imagine tense conversations going on behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/the-general-public-have-a-warped-view-of-the-speed-at-which-an/) [Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/) > [“Stomach full of jitters, little beasts that were second cousins to guacamolians—little green monsters that wreaked havoc in your stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kely-mcclung/stomach-full-of-jitters-little-beasts-that-were-second-cousins-to/) [William Kely McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kely-mcclung/) > [I read a lot of 'Nancy Drew' books as a kid and considered myself a bit of an amateur detective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-read-a-lot-of-nancy-drew-books-as-a-kid-and-considered-myself-a-bit/) [Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/) > [It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/it-is-ridiculous-to-set-a-detective-story-in-new-york-city-new-york/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Arthur Conan Doyle was entranced by the notion of a brilliant detective who can deduce everything a stranger has been up to from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-yglesias/arthur-conan-doyle-was-entranced-by-the-notion-of-a-brilliant/) [Rafael Yglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-yglesias/) > [Detective, I don't know where the boyfriend is, really," I said. And it was true, considering tide, current, and the habits of marine scavengers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/detective-i-don-t-know-where-the-boyfriend-is-really-i-said-and-it/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [What the detective story is about is not murder but the restoration of order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-james/what-the-detective-story-is-about-is-not-murder-but-the-restoration/) [P. D. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-james/) > [Sure, I'll have characters drop in and out of books but the main cast of characters always changes. Maybe I'm wrong but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hiaasen/sure-i-ll-have-characters-drop-in-and-out-of-books-but-the-main-cast/) [Carl Hiaasen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hiaasen/) > [Johannes Cabal would kill me for saying this, but he's my favorite Zeppelin-hopping detective. The fellow has got all the charm of Bond and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/johannes-cabal-would-kill-me-for-saying-this-but-he-s-my-favorite/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [“My motto? Don’t trust someone who is just as cagey as yourself." "What kind of detective are you?” “A lousy one and proud of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-a-edelheit/my-motto-don-t-trust-someone-who-is-just-as-cagey-as-yourself-what/) [Peggy A. Edelheit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-a-edelheit/) > [“...you cannot enter into an investigation with a philosophy that dictates the outcome. Objectivity is paramount; this is the first principle of detective work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cannot-enter-into-an-investigation-with-a-philosophy-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I'm home with no chore at hand, and a package of books has come, the television set and the chess board and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/if-i-m-home-with-no-chore-at-hand-and-a-package-of-books-has-come-the/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [I like the idea of playing a historical detective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-mendes/i-like-the-idea-of-playing-a-historical-detective/) [Eva Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-mendes/) > [You find when you're writing a detective story that you're actually not trying to solve anything. You're trying to stop the reader from solving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/you-find-when-you-re-writing-a-detective-story-that-you-re-actually/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) [Browse all 482 Detective quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detective/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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 the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. I do not concern myself with such petty things as fingerprint powder, telltale pieces of pocket fluff and inane footprints. I see the solution to each problem as being detectable in the pattern and web of the whole. The connections between causes and effects are often much more subtle and complex than we with our rough and ready understanding of the physical world might naturally suppose, Mrs Rawlinson. \"Let me give you an example. If you go to an acupuncturist with toothache he sticks a needle instead into your thigh. Do you know why he does that, Mrs Rawlinson? No, neither do I, Mrs Rawlinson, but we intend to find out. A pleasure talking to you, Mrs Rawlinson. Goodbye.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawlinson-the-term-holistic/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Detective" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawlinson-the-term-holistic/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/douglas-adams-122_detective_i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawl_2290010.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/douglas-adams-122_detective_i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawl_2290010.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/douglas-adams-122_detective_i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawl_2290010.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm very glad you asked me that, Mrs Rawlinson. The term 'holistic' refers to my conviction that what we are…” — 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'm very glad you asked me...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawlinson-the-term-holistic/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-m-very-glad-you-asked-me-that-mrs-rawlinson-the-term-holistic/#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 } } ] } ```