All right, said Ford, "I'll try to explain. How long have we known each other?" "How long?" Arthur thought. "Er, about five years, maybe six," he said. "Most of it seemed to make some sense at the time."

More from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

• Are you telling me, he said, "that you set yourself up to become President of the Galaxy just to steal that ship?" "That's it," said Zaphod with the sort of grin that would get most people locked away in a room with soft walls.
• Ford, he said. "you're turning into a penguin. Stop it."
• Life, said Marvin dolefully, "loathe it or ignore it, you can't like it."
• Look, said Arthur, "would it save you a lot of time if I just gave up and went mad now?"
• My God, complained Arthur, "you're talking about a positive mental attitude and you haven't even had your planet demolished today."
• Myself I'd trust him to the end of the Earth, said Ford. "Oh yes," said Arthur, "and how far's that?" "About twelve minutes away," said Ford, "come on, I need a drink."