---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You just let the machines get on with the…"
description: "\"“You just let the machines get on with the adding up,” warned Majikthise, “and we’ll take care of the eternal verities, thank you very much. You want t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/douglas-adams-122_adventure_you-just-let-the-machines-get-on-with-th_902375.png"
---

#  You just let the machines get on with the adding up,”…

![“You just let the machines get on with the adding up,” warned Majikthise, “and we’ll take care of the eternal verities, thank you very much. You want to check your legal position, you do, mate. Under law the Quest for Ultimate Truth is quite clearly the inalienable prerogative of your working…” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/douglas-adams-122_adventure_you-just-let-the-machines-get-on-with-th_902375.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/douglas-adams-122_adventure_you-just-let-the-machines-get-on-with-th_902375.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/douglas-adams-122_adventure_you-just-let-the-machines-get-on-with-th_902375.png)

> ““You just let the machines get on with the adding up,” warned Majikthise, “and we’ll take care of the eternal verities, thank you very much. You want to check your legal position, you do, mate. Under law the Quest for Ultimate Truth is quite clearly the inalienable prerogative of your working thinkers. Any bloody machine goes and actually finds it and we’re straight out of a job, aren’t we? I mean, what’s the use of our sitting up half the night arguing that there may or may not be a God if this machine only goes and gives you his bleeding phone number the next morning?””

[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.

Relying on machines for ultimate truth threatens human purpose; we must guard the role of human reasoning and moral judgment.

**In simple terms:** Machines may solve problems, but humans must keep meaning and ethics.

Key Takeaway

Preserve human judgment in the age of AI.

Themes

technology ethics humanism

Mood

skeptical thought‑provoking

Type

critical philosophical

When to use this quote

- legal analysis
- philosophical debate
- AI policy development

Key Concepts

AI existential risk knowledge authority

Questions to Reflect On

- What unique value does human reasoning provide?
- How should society balance AI efficiency with ethical oversight?

A Different Perspective

Assumes machines can truly grasp moral truths, which is contested.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Check Legal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/check-legal-1254269/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [God Machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-machine-1254267/) [Machine Goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machine-goes-1254268/) [Phone number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-number/) [Ultimate truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-truth/) [Want Check](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-check-971907/)

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