The meaning of: “The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss?"
What did Douglas Adams really mean when he wrote: “The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” It has severe overtones of Zen Buddhism, almost koan-like.
Douglas Adams also said, "It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes." Are you really going to put alot of analytical thought into someone that puts forth the bizarre and fanciful quotes that he does? Especially when penned in a book such as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
How else would one explain flying? Jumping in the air and flapping as hard as you can? Leaping off a building and hoping to catch a thermal? His explanation is better than anything out there, so accept it at face value.
He also said: There is a theory which states that if ever for any reason anyone discovers what exactly the Universe is for and why it is here it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another that states that this has already happened.
Practice is the key to everything...even koans.
This reminds me of the Buddhist practice of seeking without seeking.
In any case he was wrong!!!
He might have been more successful had he thrown himself at the sky and hoped the ground didn't catch up!
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