Original artwork, not a still
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy · 1979
The dolphins' farewell to humanity, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
So long, and thanks for all the fish.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is the funniest goodbye in science fiction: the planet's second-cleverest species signs off with a thank-you for the fish, and nobody notices. The joke lands harder because the dolphins were right all along and humans thought they were being cute. As a phrase it became fans' go-to for a graceful, slightly smug exit, and Adams liked it enough to name a whole novel after it.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyShow the scene
The words are the dolphins' last message to humanity in Douglas Adams's first Hitchhiker's story. Earth's dolphins have long known the planet is about to be destroyed and have tried to warn people, but humans read their efforts as tricks for fish. Their final message, misread as a double backward somersault through a hoop while whistling the American national anthem, was in fact this farewell. The passage is in chapter 23 of the first novel. Adams made it the title of the fourth book in 1984, and the 2005 film turned it into a song the dolphins sing before they leave.
Sources (4)
- Wikiquote: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyChapter 23Reference checked
- Hitchhiker's wiki: DolphinsArticle text and film noteReference checked
- Hitchhiker's wiki: So Long, and Thanks for All the FishInfoboxReference checked
- Hitchhiker's wiki: So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish (song)Appearances and Behind the scenesReference checked
Context reviewed
