Forty-One

Not to be confused with Forty-two which is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything… or is it :smiley:

Forty-One from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

The wise student hears of the Tao and practices it diligently
The average student hears of the Tao and gives it thought now and again.
The foolish student hears of the Tao and laughs aloud.
If there were no laughter, the Tao would not be what it is.

Hence it is said:
The bright path seems dim;
Going forward seems like retreat;
The easy way seems hard;
The highest virtue seems empty;
Great purity seems sullied;
A wealth of Virtue seems inadequate;
The strength of Virtue seems frail;
Real Virtue seems unreal;
The perfect square has no corners;
Great talents ripen late;
The highest notes are hard to hear;
The greatest form has no shape.
The Tao is hidden and without name.
The Tao alone nourishes and brings everything to fulfillment.

Not to be confused with Forty-two which is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything… or is it

And to that I say, “don’t panic, Zaphod Beebelbrox for President!”

Sorry, couldn’t resist as it’s one of my favorite movies!

Here I am, brain the size of a planet
and they ask me to take you to the bridge.
Call that job satisfaction, 'cause I don't.

never saw it :smiley:

I never did actually see the whole movie, I read the books and saw the BBC version of it however

If you loved the movie, you seriously need to read the books. :slight_smile:

Watched the BBC movie (still my favorite), read the book and saw the recent movie. Kind of disappointed in the recent movie. No one can be a better Zaphod than the BBC movie. And the depressed robot! Need to watch it again.

Thanks Yulaw. I’ve read this a few times today and enjoy it. I will print it off and put it in my journal.

Quote: “Why do you all blow wind into this person’s sails?” - InnerAthlete
"In order to keep him from coming on our shores!" - FlexPenguin

I think I understand most of the message, but do not get the meaning of “the perfect square has no corners.”

Let’s bathe in malt whisky: covet gold finery
Through the eyes of a Jackdaw, dressed to the nines.
Let’s go in wet corridors: dive down drains.
Draw strength from machinery, it’s all the same.
Thinking round corners. Think round corners, I say.
Thinking round corners.

:smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

Yulaw, you are no longer that mean looking frog! Are you now a scary panda? I’m going to call you a shape shifter! lol

41, will I be in April! Makes me think now about 42…will wait then for the ultimate answer to the ultimate question, will keep your updated. :slight_smile:

Yes Pandara, at 42 you are bestowed the answer to the ultimate question…and I received this almost 11 years ago…Patience my friend!

Today I’m 52. You mean I’ve known the answer for 10 years? I’ve got to pat more attention.

Well Happy Birthday to you Flex! Didn’t you hear? At 50 you start having Un-Birthday’s. So now you know to pay attention in 6 years!

Yes, I AM a shap shifter.... also my youngest sees daddy more as Po from Kung Fu Panda than a frog with big nasty pointed teeth

Happy Birthday

With regard to HG2G, I saw the new movie before I read the books - or really even knew much about them. So the movie was right up my alley - boy was the book reading a real pleasure!!

Douglas Adams was a true visionary with such a unique way of getting across his message. Much love to Douglas Adams. <3