--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What have you done to it, Monkeyman? - he…" description: "\"“What have you done to it, Monkeyman? - he breathed. - Well, - said Arthur, - nothing in fact. It's just that I think a short while ago it was trying t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40f/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-br_1130542.png" --- # What have you done to it, Monkeyman? - he breathed… ![“What have you done to it, Monkeyman? - he breathed. - Well, - said Arthur, - nothing in fact. It's just that I think a short while ago it was trying to work out how to... - Yes? - Make me some tea. - That's right guys, - the computer sang out suddenly, - just coping with that problem right now…” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40f/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-br_1130542.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40f/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-br_1130542.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40f/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-br_1130542.png) > ““What have you done to it, Monkeyman? - he breathed. - Well, - said Arthur, - nothing in fact. It's just that I think a short while ago it was trying to work out how to... - Yes? - Make me some tea. - That's right guys, - the computer sang out suddenly, - just coping with that problem right now, and wow, it's a biggy. Be with you in a while." It lapsed back into a silence that was only matched for sheer intensity by the silence of the three people staring at Arthur Dent.”” [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. A chaotic, humorous scene shows characters confronting absurd technical problems, highlighting human frustration and the need for patience. **In simple terms:** Tech issues can feel absurd and overwhelming. Key Takeaway Stay patient, seek help. Themes humor technology frustration patience Mood lighthearted ironic Type satirical conversational When to use this quote - debugging software - team meetings - learning new tools Key Concepts absurdity communication collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay calm under tech pressure? - What role does humor play in problem solving? A Different Perspective Humor can mask deeper stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arthur dent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arthur-dent/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ## Related quotes > [Those who had demanded no more than an end to the bombing of North Vietnam and a commitment to negotiations saw their demands being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/those-who-had-demanded-no-more-than-an-end-to-the-bombing-of-north/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“With the subject of work off limits, they lapsed into a silence they couldn't recover from, leaving Joanna to wonder how she could feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-stevan/with-the-subject-of-work-off-limits-they-lapsed-into-a-silence-they/) Diana Stevan > [“It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see..." "You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?" "No," said Ford, who by this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-you-see-you-mean-it-comes-from/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“I wonder who this ship belongs to anyway," said Arthur. "Me," said Zaphod. "No. Who it really belongs to." "Really me," insisted Zaphod. "Look,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-wonder-who-this-ship-belongs-to-anyway-said-arthur-me-said-zaphod/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [But the plans were on display…” “On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.” “That’s the display department.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/but-the-plans-were-on-display-on-display-i-eventually-had-to-go-down/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Arthur Dent: What happens if I press this button? Ford Prefect: I wouldn't- Arthur Dent: Oh. Ford Prefect: What happened? Arthur Dent: A sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/arthur-dent-what-happens-if-i-press-this-button-ford-prefect-i-wouldn/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Marvin trudged on down the corridor, still moaning. "...and then of course I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/marvin-trudged-on-down-the-corridor-still-moaning-and-then-of-course/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Time is the worst place, so to speak, to get lost in, as Arthur Dent could testify, having been lost in both time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/time-is-the-worst-place-so-to-speak-to-get-lost-in-as-arthur-dent/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Why,” said Arthur Dent, “isn’t anyone ever pleased to see us?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/why-said-arthur-dent-isn-t-anyone-ever-pleased-to-see-us/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Arthur felt happy. He was terribly pleased that the day was for once working out so much according to plan. Only twenty minutes ago…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/arthur-felt-happy-he-was-terribly-pleased-that-the-day-was-for-once/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“All right," said Ford. "How would you react if I said that I'm not from Guildford at all, but from a small planet somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/all-right-said-ford-how-would-you-react-if-i-said-that-i-m-not-from/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“When you’re young, and just emerging from the four walls of home into the wide world outside, that’s exactly when you feel so small,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/when-you-re-young-and-just-emerging-from-the-four-walls-of-home-into/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The only person for whom the house was in any way special was Arthur Dent, and that was only because it happened to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-only-person-for-whom-the-house-was-in-any-way-special-was-arthur/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [You know," said Arthur, "it's at times like this, when I'm trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/you-know-said-arthur-it-s-at-times-like-this-when-i-m-trapped-in-a/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Ford!" he said, "there's an infinite number of monkeys outside who want to talk to us about this script for Hamlet they've worked out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/ford-he-said-there-s-an-infinite-number-of-monkeys-outside-who-want/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## 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 Arthur dent quotes > [“It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see..." "You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?" "No," said Ford, who by this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-you-see-you-mean-it-comes-from/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [You know," said Arthur, "it's at times like this, when I'm trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/you-know-said-arthur-it-s-at-times-like-this-when-i-m-trapped-in-a/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The only person for whom the house was in any way special was Arthur Dent, and that was only because it happened to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-only-person-for-whom-the-house-was-in-any-way-special-was-arthur/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“When you’re young, and just emerging from the four walls of home into the wide world outside, that’s exactly when you feel so small,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/when-you-re-young-and-just-emerging-from-the-four-walls-of-home-into/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“All right," said Ford. "How would you react if I said that I'm not from Guildford at all, but from a small planet somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/all-right-said-ford-how-would-you-react-if-i-said-that-i-m-not-from/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Arthur felt happy. He was terribly pleased that the day was for once working out so much according to plan. Only twenty minutes ago…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/arthur-felt-happy-he-was-terribly-pleased-that-the-day-was-for-once/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Why,” said Arthur Dent, “isn’t anyone ever pleased to see us?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/why-said-arthur-dent-isn-t-anyone-ever-pleased-to-see-us/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Time is the worst place, so to speak, to get lost in, as Arthur Dent could testify, having been lost in both time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/time-is-the-worst-place-so-to-speak-to-get-lost-in-as-arthur-dent/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Marvin trudged on down the corridor, still moaning. "...and then of course I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/marvin-trudged-on-down-the-corridor-still-moaning-and-then-of-course/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Arthur Dent: What happens if I press this button? Ford Prefect: I wouldn't- Arthur Dent: Oh. Ford Prefect: What happened? Arthur Dent: A sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/arthur-dent-what-happens-if-i-press-this-button-ford-prefect-i-wouldn/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [But the plans were on display…” “On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.” “That’s the display department.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/but-the-plans-were-on-display-on-display-i-eventually-had-to-go-down/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“I wonder who this ship belongs to anyway," said Arthur. "Me," said Zaphod. "No. Who it really belongs to." "Really me," insisted Zaphod. "Look,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-wonder-who-this-ship-belongs-to-anyway-said-arthur-me-said-zaphod/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Ford!" he said, "there's an infinite number of monkeys outside who want to talk to us about this script for Hamlet they've worked out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/ford-he-said-there-s-an-infinite-number-of-monkeys-outside-who-want/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“I see", said Arthur Dent. He didn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-see-said-arthur-dent-he-didn-t/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“At that moment the dull sound of a rumbling crash from outside filtered through the low murmur of the pub, through the sound of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/at-that-moment-the-dull-sound-of-a-rumbling-crash-from-outside/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) [Browse all 17 Arthur dent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arthur-dent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What have you done to it, Monkeyman? - he breathed. - Well, - said Arthur, - nothing in fact. It's just that I think a short while ago it was trying to work out how to... - Yes? - Make me some tea. - That's right guys, - the computer sang out suddenly, - just coping with that problem right now, and wow, it's a biggy. Be with you in a while.\" It lapsed back into a silence that was only matched for sheer intensity by the silence of the three people staring at Arthur Dent.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-breathed-well-said-arthur/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arthur dent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-breathed-well-said-arthur/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40f/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-br_1130542.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40f/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-br_1130542.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40f/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-br_1130542.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What have you done to it, Monkeyman? - he breathed. - Well, - said Arthur, - nothing in fact. It's just 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": "“What have you done to it,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-breathed-well-said-arthur/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-breathed-well-said-arthur/#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 } } ] } ```