“We have normality. I repeat, we have normality. Anything you still can't cope with is therefore your own problem.”
Douglas Adams
“We have normality. I repeat, we have normality. Anything you still can't cope with is therefore your own problem.”
Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams, born March 11, 1952, was a British author best known for his The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series, a unique blend of science fiction, humor, and philosophy. This quote comes from the third book in the series, Life, the Universe and Everything, and perfectly encapsulates Adams’ style—witty, absurd, yet often profound.
On the surface, the quote humorously announces the return of normality after a period of chaos, implying that everything should be fine now. However, Adams immediately undermines this reassurance by adding, “Anything you still can't cope with is therefore your own problem,” hinting at the subjective nature of “normality” and human expectations. In Adams' universe, "normal" is a relative term, often skewed by absurdity and chaos, and the idea that things are now "normal" does not necessarily mean everyone is equipped to deal with that new state.
Adams was a master at satirizing human nature, particularly our tendency to cling to the idea of normality, even when the world around us is anything but. In this quote, he pokes fun at the illusion of control. The suggestion that everything is back to normal, yet if you can’t adjust, it’s somehow your fault, reveals the unrealistic expectations placed on individuals to adapt instantly to shifting circumstances. It mirrors real-life situations where society or authority figures declare things "fixed," while individuals may still feel disoriented or unprepared.
Adams was not only a writer of absurd science fiction but also a keen observer of human nature. Through the lens of humor and intergalactic travel, he examined how humans handle the unknown, the unpredictable, and the chaotic. In many ways, this quote reflects the overall tone of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series, where characters are often thrown into bizarre situations and expected to adapt quickly—whether or not they're actually capable of doing so.
At its core, the quote reflects the absurdity of life: even when things seem to be "normal," they often aren’t, and the burden of coping still falls on the individual. In classic Douglas Adams fashion, this observation is delivered with humor, reminding readers that coping with the unpredictable is an inevitable part of existence.