How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
By a curious coincidence, "None at all" is exactly how much suspicion the ape-descendant Arthur Dent had that one of his closest friends was not descended from an ape, but was in fact from a small planet in the vicinity of Betelgeuse and not from Guildford as he usually claimed. (1.52)
In Hitchhiker's Guide, part of the humor comes from Adams comparing the regular to the weird. Here, we learn that Ford isn't from Guildford (a normal place) but from Betelgeuse (a weird place). But that sort of comparison also is a little awe-inspiring. Seriously, Betelgeuse? Can you feel humor and awe at the same time?
Quote #2
"Listen to me—I've got to tell you the most important thing you've ever heard. I've got to tell you now, and I've got to tell you in the saloon bar of the Horse and Groom."
"But why?"
"Because you are going to need a very stiff drink." (1.90-2)
Amazement is not good for your health, it seems. Ford is going to tell Arthur about the Vogon fleet, but that's the sort of amazing news that might drive someone a little crazy—or as the English would say, "barmy." See the quote below for how some Earth-people do respond to this amazing news.
Quote #3
The barman looked at it and then looked at Ford. He suddenly shivered: he experienced a momentary sensation that he didn't understand because no one on Earth had ever experienced it before. In moments of great stress, every life form that exists gives out a tiny subliminal signal. This signal simply communicates an exact and almost pathetic sense of how far that being is from the place of his birth. On Earth it is never possible to be further than sixteen thousand miles from your birthplace, which really isn't very far, so such signals are too minute to be noticed. Ford Prefect was at this moment under great stress, and he was born 600 light years away in the near vicinity of Betelgeuse. (3.29)
Adams introduces this amazing moment by showing how it affects the barman and then explaining the amazing reason for that reaction. And since we start with the barman having a physical reaction that we can all understand ("He suddenly shivered") and then moves into the amazing part, this bit probably hits us a little stronger. Amazement here sure doesn't sound like any fun.