The only person for whom the house was in any way special was Arthur Dent, and that was only because it happened to be the one he lived in.

There’s no point in acting surprised about it. All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display at your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for 50 of your Earth years, so you’ve had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it’s far too late to start making a fuss about it now... What do you mean you’ve never been to Alpha Centauri? Oh, for heaven’s sake, mankind, it’s only four light years away, you know. I’m sorry, but if you can’t be bothered to take an interest in local affairs, that’s your own lookout. Energize the demolition beams.

ABOYNE (vb.) To beat an expert at a game of skill by playing so appallingly that none of his clever tactics or strategies are of any use to him.

Obviously somebody had been appallingly incompetent and he hoped to God it wasn't him.

I don't go to mythical places with strange men.

Nobleness was one word for making a fuss about the trivial inevitabilities of life, but there were others.

Put away your worries, the world is a good and perfect place. It is in fact very easy.