--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You may not instantly see why I bring the…" description: "\"You may not instantly see why I bring the subject up, but that is because my mind works so phenomenally fast, and I am at a rough estimate thirty billi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69c/douglas-adams-122_billions_you-may-not-instantly-see-why-i-bring-th_471960.png" --- # You may not instantly see why I bring the subject up, but… ![“You may not instantly see why I bring the subject up, but that is because my mind works so phenomenally fast, and I am at a rough estimate thirty billion times more intelligent than you. Let me give you an example. Think of a number, any number.” “Er, five,” said the mattress. “Wrong,” said…” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69c/douglas-adams-122_billions_you-may-not-instantly-see-why-i-bring-th_471960.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69c/douglas-adams-122_billions_you-may-not-instantly-see-why-i-bring-th_471960.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69c/douglas-adams-122_billions_you-may-not-instantly-see-why-i-bring-th_471960.png) > “You may not instantly see why I bring the subject up, but that is because my mind works so phenomenally fast, and I am at a rough estimate thirty billion times more intelligent than you. Let me give you an example. Think of a number, any number.” “Er, five,” said the mattress. “Wrong,” said Marvin. “You see?” [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. The narrator boasts hyperbolic intelligence, using absurd humor to illustrate the absurdity of overconfidence. **In simple terms:** Boasting about extreme intelligence is absurd. Key Takeaway Beware of overconfidence and arrogance. Themes humor arrogance intelligence Mood witty satirical Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - academic debates - tech presentations - social media posts - personal arguments Key Concepts satire cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How does humor reveal truth about ego? - When is confidence constructive versus conceited? A Different Perspective Exaggerated claims can undermine credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Marvin was humming ironically because he hated humans so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/marvin-was-humming-ironically-because-he-hated-humans-so-much/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Think of a number between 1 and 10. Multiply by 5. Divide by 2. Close your eyes... Dark isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/think-of-a-number-between-1-and-10-multiply-by-5-divide-by-2-close/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [I don't like knowing what the next song is because that's what I'd think about during the number we're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lee-phillips/i-don-t-like-knowing-what-the-next-song-is-because-that-s-what-i-d/) [Grant-Lee Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lee-phillips/) > [Don't think about being the number one in the world, try instead to get through today's program as well as you can. Then we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/don-t-think-about-being-the-number-one-in-the-world-try-instead-to/) [Rafael Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-nadal/) > [Think of a number. Double it. Add six. Half it. Take away the number you started with. Your answer is three. Mind = Blown!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/think-of-a-number-double-it-add-six-half-it-take-away-the-number-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What's up?" "I don't know," said Marvin, "I've never been there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-s-up-i-don-t-know-said-marvin-i-ve-never-been-there/) [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/) > [“Having solved all the major mathematical, physical, chemical, biological, sociological, philosophical, etymological, meteorological and psychological problems of the Universe except for his own, three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/having-solved-all-the-major-mathematical-physical-chemical-biological/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [OK think of a number. Add 12 to the number. Subtract 2. Divide that number by 5. Add 20. Did you get 12? Neither did I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-carter/ok-think-of-a-number-add-12-to-the-number-subtract-2-divide-that/) Paige Carter > [When Serena is number one, its hard to think of being number one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-halep/when-serena-is-number-one-its-hard-to-think-of-being-number-one/) [Simona Halep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-halep/) > [Come on,” he droned, “I’ve been ordered to take you down to the bridge. Here I am, brain the size of a planet and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/come-on-he-droned-i-ve-been-ordered-to-take-you-down-to-the-bridge/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Pardon me for breathing, which I never do any way so I don’t know why I bother to say it, oh God, I’m so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/pardon-me-for-breathing-which-i-never-do-any-way-so-i-don-t-know-why/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [ What's up?" \[asked Ford.\] I don't know," said Marvin, "I've never been there. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-s-up-asked-ford-i-don-t-know-said-marvin-i-ve-never-been-there/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Don't blame you," said Marvin and counted five hundred and ninety-seven thousand million sheep before falling asleep again a second later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/don-t-blame-you-said-marvin-and-counted-five-hundred-and-ninety-seven/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [We think of the number "five" as applying to appropriate groups of any entities whatsoever - to five fishes, five children, five apples, five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/we-think-of-the-number-five-as-applying-to-appropriate-groups-of-any/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) ## 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 Billions quotes > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The universe is simmering down, like a giant stew left to cook for four billion years. Sooner or later we won’t be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-bloch/the-universe-is-simmering-down-like-a-giant-stew-left-to-cook-for/) [Arthur Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-bloch/) > [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [If Jesus is the Son of God in human flesh, He's one of a kind of the 13 billions of people who have ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/if-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-in-human-flesh-he-s-one-of-a-kind-of-the/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [Here we were talking about economic development, about investing billions of dollars in various programs, and I could see it wasn't billions of dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/here-we-were-talking-about-economic-development-about-investing/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [Everyone thinks they've won the Magical Belief Lottery. Everyone thinks they more or less have a handle on things, that they, as opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/everyone-thinks-they-ve-won-the-magical-belief-lottery-everyone/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-neuroses-and-some-psychoses-can-be-traced-to-the-unnecessary-and/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [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/) > [The idea of spontaneous generation of life in its present form is therefore highly improbable even to the scale of the billions of years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-prigogine/the-idea-of-spontaneous-generation-of-life-in-its-present-form-is/) [Ilya Prigogine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-prigogine/) > [To defy heredity is to defy billions of years, to defy the first cell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/to-defy-heredity-is-to-defy-billions-of-years-to-defy-the-first-cell/) [Emile M. 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In a hundred billion galaxies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/every-one-of-us-is-in-the-cosmic-perspective-precious-if-a-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ We have the ability to take him \[President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez\] out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/we-have-the-ability-to-take-him-president-of-venezuela-hugo-chavez/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [The buildings that were in question, they said in the same report, which was - actually, it wasn't even a bad story, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-buildings-that-were-in-question-they-said-in-the-same-report/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) Browse all 1,864 Billions quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You may not instantly see why I bring the subject up, but that is because my mind works so phenomenally fast, and I am at a rough estimate thirty billion times more intelligent than you. 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