"We live in strange times. We also live in strange places: each in a universe of our own. The people with whom we populate our universes are the shadows of whole other universes intersecting with our own. Being able to glance out into this bewildering complexity of infinite recursion and say things like, 'Oh, hi, Ed! Nice tan. How's Carol?' involves a great deal of filtering skill for which all conscious entities have eventually to develop a capacity in order to protect themselves from the contemplation of the chaos through which they seethe and tumble."

14 likes

Source: Douglas Adams (2009). “Mostly Harmless”, p.100, Pan Macmillan

About the author

Douglas Adams

Writer, Humorist

Douglas Adams was a British author known for his satirical science fiction, particularly 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,' which explores absurdity and existence.

All quotes by Douglas Adams →

Same author

More quotes by Douglas Adams

See all →
Douglas Adams Writer, Humorist

"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.There is another theory which states that this has already happened."

Read quote
Douglas Adams Writer, Humorist

"If somebody thinks they're a hedgehog, presumably you just give 'em a mirror and a few pictures of hedgehogs and tell them to sort it out for themselves."

Read quote