Oh God, muttered Ford, slumped against a bulkhead and started to count to ten. He was desperately worried that one day sentient life forms would forget how to do this. Only by counting could humans demonstrate their independence of computers.

More from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

• 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."
• 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."