# Quote — Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: Primary Phase

> "I checked it very thoroughly," said the computer, "and that quite definitely is the answer. I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you've never actually known what the question is."
>
> "But it was the Great Question! The Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything," howled Loonquawl.
>
> "Yes," said Deep Thought with the air of one who suffers fools gladly, "but what actually is it?"
>
> A slow stupefied silence crept over the men as they stared at the computer and then at each other.
>
> "Well, you know, it's just Everything ... Everything ..." offered Phouchg weakly.
>
> "Exactly!" said Deep Thought. "So once you know what the question actually is, you'll know what the answer means."

- Author: [Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md)
- Book: [The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: Primary Phase](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker's_Guide_to_the_Galaxy#Chapter_28) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase/i-checked-it-very

## More from this book

> "Come," said Slartibartfast, "you are to meet the mice."

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> The aircar rocketed them at speeds in excess of R17 through the steel tunnels that lead out onto the appalling surface of the planet which was now in the grip of yet another drear morning twilight. Ghastly grey lights congealed on the land.
>
> R is a velocity measure, defined as a reasonable speed of travel that is consistent with health, mental wellbeing and not being more than say five minutes late. It is therefore clearly an almost infinitely variable figure according to circumstances, since the first two factors vary not only with speed taken as an absolute, but also with awareness of the third factor. Unless handled with tranquility this equation can result in considerable stress, ulcers and even death.
>
> R17 is not a fixed velocity, but it is clearly far too fast.

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> "Simple. I got very bored and depressed, so I went and plugged myself in to its external computer feed. I talked to the computer at great length and explained my view of the Universe to it," said Marvin.
>
> "And what happened?" pressed Ford.
>
> "It committed suicide," said Marvin and stalked off back to the Heart of Gold.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-primary-phase/simple-i-got.md)