--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Totally mad,' he said, 'utter nonsense…" description: "\"'Totally mad,' he said, 'utter nonsense. But we'll do it because it's brilliant nonsense.'\" — Douglas Adams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/douglas-adams-122_brilliant_totally-mad-he-said-utter-nonsense-but-w_990128.png" --- # 'Totally mad,' he said, 'utter nonsense. But we'll do it… ![“'Totally mad,' he said, 'utter nonsense. But we'll do it because it's brilliant nonsense.'” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/douglas-adams-122_brilliant_totally-mad-he-said-utter-nonsense-but-w_990128.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/douglas-adams-122_brilliant_totally-mad-he-said-utter-nonsense-but-w_990128.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/douglas-adams-122_brilliant_totally-mad-he-said-utter-nonsense-but-w_990128.png) > “'Totally mad,' he said, 'utter nonsense. But we'll do it because it's brilliant nonsense.'” [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. Embracing absurdity can lead to brilliant, unexpected solutions despite seeming nonsense. **In simple terms:** Absurd ideas can be surprisingly effective. Key Takeaway Accept and explore wild ideas. Themes creativity absurdity innovation Mood playful inquisitive Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - brainstorming sessions - product development - artistic experiments Key Concepts risk-taking paradoxical thinking breakthroughs Questions to Reflect On - How can you harness absurd ideas responsibly? - When does absurdity become counterproductive? A Different Perspective Brilliant nonsense may lack practicality or be misunderstood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Brilliant Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant-nonsense-698935/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [Mad Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad-said-967996/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Statistics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statistics/) [Totally Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totally-mad-698936/) [Utter Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utter-nonsense-698937/) ## Related quotes > [Totally mad. Utter nonsense. But we'll do it because it's brilliant nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/totally-mad-utter-nonsense-but-we-ll-do-it-because-it-s-brilliant/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The paleo diet is utter nonsense - it is such pseudoscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/the-paleo-diet-is-utter-nonsense-it-is-such-pseudoscience/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [“The debate over the semantics of “preference” versus “orientation” is utter nonsense, and if you even suggest to me that one might “pray the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/the-debate-over-the-semantics-of-preference-versus-orientation-is/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“Consider the possibility that many of the things you hear and say are utter nonsense and meaningless repetitions of noise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/consider-the-possibility-that-many-of-the-things-you-hear-and-say-are/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [To the extent that the academy is producing people who are talking utter nonsense, and imagining that it is sophisticated and enlightened - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-weinstein/to-the-extent-that-the-academy-is-producing-people-who-are-talking/) [Bret Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-weinstein/) > [“I am sure you have heard that appearance doesn't matter and that it's what's on the inside that counts. Well that of course is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/i-am-sure-you-have-heard-that-appearance-doesn-t-matter-and-that-it-s/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > ['But I dont want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked. 'Oh, you cant help that,' said the Cat. 'Were all mad here. Im…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/but-i-dont-want-to-go-among-mad-people-alice-remarked-oh-you-cant/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [You never get mad,” she said when their server left the table. “Except at me.” “That’s not true,” he said tightly. “Torie can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/you-never-get-mad-she-said-when-their-server-left-the-table-except-at/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [A man must sometimes laugh at himself or go mad,’ said he. ‘Few realize it. That is why there are so many madmen in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-sabatini/a-man-must-sometimes-laugh-at-himself-or-go-mad-said-he-few-realize/) [Rafael Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-sabatini/) > [“But I don’t want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/but-i-don-t-want-to-go-among-mad-people-alice-remarked-oh-you-can-t-2/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“Maybe he was as mad as he said he was, but she could see only a species of miserable fright. Suddenly, like the thud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/maybe-he-was-as-mad-as-he-said-he-was-but-she-could-see-only-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Why do you persist in being so frivolous, Urgit?" "Why don't we just call it a symptom of my incipient madness?" "You're not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/why-do-you-persist-in-being-so-frivolous-urgit-why-don-t-we-just-call/) [David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/) > [“How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice "You must be," said the cat, "or you wouldn't have come here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/how-do-you-know-i-m-mad-said-alice-you-must-be-said-the-cat-or-you/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“Mad?” said Percy airily. “He’s a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/mad-said-percy-airily-he-s-a-genius-best-wizard-in-the-world-but-he/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“You’re mad,” he said in a low voice, “if you think I would leave you now. I’ll see you safe and well no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/you-re-mad-he-said-in-a-low-voice-if-you-think-i-would-leave-you-now/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) ## 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 Brilliant quotes > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [No matter how brilliant an actor is, there's always a point where they let you down, but that's all part of their journey. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hale/no-matter-how-brilliant-an-actor-is-there-s-always-a-point-where-they/) [Amanda Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hale/) > [I enjoy working with Deborah Ann, I think she's brilliant. It's been a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-enjoy-working-with-deborah-ann-i-think-she-s-brilliant-it-s-been-a/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [Gravity Falls' didn't just appear overnight - every spooky cave and moss covered tree was created by a team of brilliant artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/gravity-falls-didn-t-just-appear-overnight-every-spooky-cave-and-moss/) [Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/) > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-a-trace-of-irony-i-can-say-i-have-been-blessed-with-brilliant/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' is a movie that I just find flawless. Jack Nicholson... I just saw 'The Shining' again the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biehn/one-flew-over-the-cuckoo-s-nest-is-a-movie-that-i-just-find-flawless/) [Michael Biehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biehn/) > [“You deicde, and you make our night what you want. Brilliant and ours. Stupid and theirs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-phillips/you-deicde-and-you-make-our-night-what-you-want-brilliant-and-ours/) [Arthur Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-phillips/) > [Whatever we may say against collections, which present authors in a disjointed form, they nevertheless bring about many excellent results. We are not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/whatever-we-may-say-against-collections-which-present-authors-in-a/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Tom Stafford was an odd character, you know - a brilliant guy. He looked weird and I think he took a really defensive attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-fritts/tom-stafford-was-an-odd-character-you-know-a-brilliant-guy-he-looked/) [Donnie Fritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-fritts/) [Browse all 2,403 Brilliant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Totally mad,' he said, 'utter nonsense. But we'll do it because it's brilliant nonsense.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/totally-mad-he-said-utter-nonsense-but-we-ll-do-it-because-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brilliant" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/totally-mad-he-said-utter-nonsense-but-we-ll-do-it-because-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/douglas-adams-122_brilliant_totally-mad-he-said-utter-nonsense-but-w_990128.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/douglas-adams-122_brilliant_totally-mad-he-said-utter-nonsense-but-w_990128.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/douglas-adams-122_brilliant_totally-mad-he-said-utter-nonsense-but-w_990128.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“'Totally mad,' he said, 'utter nonsense. But we'll do it because it's brilliant nonsense.'” — 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": "'Totally mad,' he said, 'utter nonsense....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/totally-mad-he-said-utter-nonsense-but-we-ll-do-it-because-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/totally-mad-he-said-utter-nonsense-but-we-ll-do-it-because-it-s/#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 } } ] } ```