I would like you to shut up about your towel, said Ford. "It isn't my towel," insisted Arthur, "that is the point I am trying to ..." "And the time at which I would like you to shut up about it," continued Ford in a low growl, "is now."

More from Life, the Universe and Everything

• Arthur, said Ford. "Hello? Yes?" said Arthur. "Just believe everything I tell you, and it will all be very, very simple." "Ah, well I'm not sure I believe that."
• I'd love to stay and help you save the Galaxy, insisted Zaphod, rising himself up on to his shoulders, "but I have the mother and father of a pair of headaches, and I feel a lot of little headaches coming on."
• My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fibre, he muttered to himself, "and that I am therefore excused from saving Universes."
• One thing, he further added, "has suddenly ceased to lead to another" - in contradiction of which he had another drink and slid gracelessly off his chair.
• That young girl, he added unexpectedly, "is one of the least benightedly unintelligent life forms it has been my profound lack of pleasure not to be able to avoid meeting."
• Trillian? he said. "She's just a kid. Cute, yeah, but temperamental. You know how it is with women. Or perhaps you don't. I assume you don't. If you do I don't want to hear about it. Plug us in."