For argument's sake

Now it is such a bizarrely improbable coincidence that anything so mindbogglingly useful could have evolved purely by chance that some thinkers have chosen to see it as a final and clinching proof of the non-existence of God.

The argument goes something like this: "I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing."

"But," says Man, "the Babel fish is a dead giveaway isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. QED."

"Oh dear," says God, "I hadn't thought of that," and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic.

"Oh, that was easy," says Man, and for an encore goes on to prove that black is white and gets himself killed on the next zebra crossing.

- The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Douglas Adams

Started off this morning (very early this morning? last night? I'm not sure; the current state of my head and eyes tell me what little sleep I got wasn't in any way what could be considered the marking end point to a day and the start of another) rereading The Long-Lost Teatime of the Soul, and even had opportunity to quote it before breakfast. My sister and I used to quote all of Adams' books extensively to each other, as part of another, but this time accidental, bonding ritual and it's amazing how you can find pretty much an appropriate one for any situation.

There are worse ways to ease into a weekend.