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

> "If you're a researcher on this book thing and you were on Earth, you must have been gathering material on it."
>
> "Well, I was able to extend the original entry a bit, yes."
>
> "Let me see what it says in this edition, then. I've got to see it."
>
> ... "What? Harmless! Is that all it's got to say? Harmless! One word! ... Well, for God's sake I hope you managed to rectify that a bit."
>
> "Oh yes, well I managed to transmit a new entry off to the editor. He had to trim it a bit, but it's still an improvement."
>
> "And what does it say now?" asked Arthur.
>
> "Mostly harmless," admitted Ford with a slightly embarrassed cough.

- 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_6) ([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/if-youre-a-researcher

## More from this book

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

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

> 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.

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

> "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)