A cardboard computer with a spiral screen wears a paper hat beside books, a small plant and a pencil cup.

Original artwork, not a still

SCO Forum 97

Douglas Adams

The difference between us and a computer is that, the computer is blindingly stupid, but it is capable of being stupid many, many million times a second.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The speaker contrasts people with computers by mocking the machine: it is thoroughly dim, yet it makes up for that by repeating its dimness millions of times every second. The joke turns raw speed into a comic virtue, suggesting computers impress through volume rather than understanding.

Context reviewed

Share this quote