--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The trouble with most forms of transport…" description: "\"“The trouble with most forms of transport, he thought, is basically one of them not being worth all the bother. On Earth — when there had been an Earth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bba/douglas-adams-122_disadvantages_the-trouble-with-most-forms-of-transport_197410.png" --- # The trouble with most forms of transport, he thought, is… ![“The trouble with most forms of transport, he thought, is basically one of them not being worth all the bother. On Earth — when there had been an Earth, before it was demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass — the problem had been with cars. The disadvantages involved in pulling lots of…” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bba/douglas-adams-122_disadvantages_the-trouble-with-most-forms-of-transport_197410.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bba/douglas-adams-122_disadvantages_the-trouble-with-most-forms-of-transport_197410.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bba/douglas-adams-122_disadvantages_the-trouble-with-most-forms-of-transport_197410.png) > ““The trouble with most forms of transport, he thought, is basically one of them not being worth all the bother. On Earth — when there had been an Earth, before it was demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass — the problem had been with cars. The disadvantages involved in pulling lots of black sticky slime from out of the ground where it had been safely hidden out of harm's way, turning it into tar to cover the land with, smoke to fill the air with and pouring the rest into the sea, all seemed to outweigh the advantages of being able to get more quickly from one place to another — particularly when the place you arrived at had probably become, as a result of this, very similar to the place you had left, i.e. covered with tar, full of smoke and short of fish.”” [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. Transportation often causes environmental harm that outweighs its speed benefits, especially when it degrades ecosystems. **In simple terms:** Transport can damage nature more than it helps. Key Takeaway Consider eco‑friendly travel alternatives. Themes environment technology travel consequences ethics Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - urban planning - policy making - personal commuting choices - energy sourcing - infrastructure design Key Concepts Ecological impact sustainability industrialization Questions to Reflect On - What trade‑offs are acceptable for faster travel? - How can we redesign transport to minimize ecological damage? A Different Perspective Speed may be necessary in emergencies despite impacts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cars Disadvantages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cars-disadvantages-2071146/) [Disadvantages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disadvantages/) [Disadvantages Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disadvantages-involved-2071148/) [Transport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transport/) [Transport Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transport-thought-2071147/) ## Related quotes > [“Elton had worked in public transport, though, and thought that predicting the arrival of anything within three or four days was pretty damned impressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mjke-wood/elton-had-worked-in-public-transport-though-and-thought-that/) [Mjke Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mjke-wood/) > [“A thoroughly ridiculous form of transport, but a thoroughly beautiful one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/a-thoroughly-ridiculous-form-of-transport-but-a-thoroughly-beautiful/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [It is in human nature to relax, when not compelled by personal advantage or disadvantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-in-human-nature-to-relax-when-not-compelled-by-personal/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is that they do not know the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-disadvantage-of-men-not-knowing-the-past-is-that-they-do-not-know/) [Gilbert K. 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Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Too much brilliance has its disadvantages, and misplaced wit may raise a laugh, but often beheads a topic of profound interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-asquith/too-much-brilliance-has-its-disadvantages-and-misplaced-wit-may-raise/) [Margot Asquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-asquith/) > [A fool acquires knowledge only to his own disadvantage. 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Many wise men have despised it because it seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/many-men-without-morals-have-attacked-religion-because-it-was/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all conquerors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/faith-is-always-at-a-disadvantage-it-is-a-perpetually-defeated-thing/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [We are lagging far behind comparable countries in overcoming the disadvantages Indigenous people face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-fraser/we-are-lagging-far-behind-comparable-countries-in-overcoming-the/) [Malcolm Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-fraser/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) ## 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. 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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 Disadvantages quotes > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [We are lagging far behind comparable countries in overcoming the disadvantages Indigenous people face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-fraser/we-are-lagging-far-behind-comparable-countries-in-overcoming-the/) [Malcolm Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-fraser/) > [Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all conquerors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/faith-is-always-at-a-disadvantage-it-is-a-perpetually-defeated-thing/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Many men without morals have attacked religion because it was contrary to their inclinations. Many wise men have despised it because it seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/many-men-without-morals-have-attacked-religion-because-it-was/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [I've been winning with 70 percent of the vote, and if you look at my district, you know it's a majority Christian district, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-ve-been-winning-with-70-percent-of-the-vote-and-if-you-look-at-my/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [the crucial disadvantage of aggression, competitiveness and skepticism as national characteristics is that these qualities cannot be turned off at five o'clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/the-crucial-disadvantage-of-aggression-competitiveness-and-skepticism/) [Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/) > [A fool acquires knowledge only to his own disadvantage. It destroys what good he has, and turns his brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/a-fool-acquires-knowledge-only-to-his-own-disadvantage-it-destroys/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Too much brilliance has its disadvantages, and misplaced wit may raise a laugh, but often beheads a topic of profound interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-asquith/too-much-brilliance-has-its-disadvantages-and-misplaced-wit-may-raise/) [Margot Asquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-asquith/) > [September could see it. She did not know what is was she saw. That is the disadvantage of being a heroine, rather than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/september-could-see-it-she-did-not-know-what-is-was-she-saw-that-is/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [The disadvantage of working over networks is that you can't so easily go into someone else's office and rip their bloody heart out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mcdonald/the-disadvantage-of-working-over-networks-is-that-you-can-t-so-easily/) [Jim McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mcdonald/) > [We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-guicciardini/we-fight-to-great-disadvantage-when-we-fight-with-those-who-have/) [Francesco Guicciardini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-guicciardini/) > [The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is that they do not know the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-disadvantage-of-men-not-knowing-the-past-is-that-they-do-not-know/) [Gilbert K. 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Of the four possibilities, only one is to my disadvantage.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/either-god-exists-or-he-doesn-t-either-i-believe-in-god-or-i-don-t-of/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 314 Disadvantages quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disadvantages/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The trouble with most forms of transport, he thought, is basically one of them not being worth all the bother. On Earth — when there had been an Earth, before it was demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass — the problem had been with cars. The disadvantages involved in pulling lots of black sticky slime from out of the ground where it had been safely hidden out of harm's way, turning it into tar to cover the land with, smoke to fill the air with and pouring the rest into the sea, all seemed to outweigh the advantages of being able to get more quickly from one place to another — particularly when the place you arrived at had probably become, as a result of this, very similar to the place you had left, i.e. covered with tar, full of smoke and short of fish.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-trouble-with-most-forms-of-transport-he-thought-is-basically-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disadvantages" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-trouble-with-most-forms-of-transport-he-thought-is-basically-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bba/douglas-adams-122_disadvantages_the-trouble-with-most-forms-of-transport_197410.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bba/douglas-adams-122_disadvantages_the-trouble-with-most-forms-of-transport_197410.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bba/douglas-adams-122_disadvantages_the-trouble-with-most-forms-of-transport_197410.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The trouble with most forms of transport, he thought, is basically one of them not being worth all the…” — 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": "“The trouble with most forms of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-trouble-with-most-forms-of-transport-he-thought-is-basically-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-trouble-with-most-forms-of-transport-he-thought-is-basically-one/#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 } } ] } ```